India Faces Challenges in Table Tennis at Asian Games

India's table tennis doubles teams faced significant challenges at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with multiple defeats in the third round. However, the nation found success in other sports, including securing medals in mixed doubles table tennis and squash. The kabaddi teams advanced to the finals, and India also celebrated victories in shooting and hockey. This article explores the highs and lows of India's Day 6 performance at the Games.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 25, 2026, 15:46 IST

Challenges in Table Tennis Doubles

India's performance in the table tennis doubles events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games encountered difficulties on Friday. The pairs of Harmeet Desai-Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Diya Chitale-Yashaswini Ghorpade, and Sreeja Akula-Syndrela Das all faced defeats in the third round.

In the men's doubles, Harmeet and Sathiyan were eliminated by Japan's Sora Matsushima and Shunsuke Togami with a score of 0-3, marking the end of their journey in the tournament. Previously, they had a hard-fought victory against Indonesia's Affan Pratama and Muhammad Negara, winning 3-2 in the second round. The Indian duo started strong, winning the first two games 11-4 and 11-7, but the Indonesians fought back to equalize by taking the next two games 11-7 and 11-8. Ultimately, the Indians clinched the deciding game 11-6.

Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah also exited the men's doubles after a 1-3 loss to Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto and Hiroto Shinozuka. In the women's doubles, Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade were defeated 0-3 by China's Fan Shuhan and Chen Yi, while Sreeja Akula and Syndrela Das lost 0-3 to China's Kuai Man and Wang Manyu.

Mixed Results in Singles Events

Earlier in the day, Manush advanced in the men's singles by defeating Iran's Benyamin Faraji with a score of 3-0, winning the games 11-9, 11-6, 11-6, and 11-5 to reach the third round. Yashaswini also moved forward in the women's singles after overcoming Syria's Hend Zaza in the second round. However, Sreeja Akula and Manav Thakkar faced defeats in their respective singles matches.

India's Achievements in Other Sports

On Day 6, India experienced a mix of outcomes in various sports. The mixed doubles team of Diya Chitale and Manush Shah secured a medal in table tennis by defeating Hong Kong's Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem in the quarter-finals.

In squash, Joshana Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar guaranteed India a medal by winning against the Philippines' David Pelino and Jemcya Aribado in the mixed doubles quarter-finals.

India's kabaddi teams progressed to the finals, with the women defeating Nepal in the semi-finals and the men overcoming Thailand. In hockey, the women's team triumphed over Japan with a score of 3-1 in their Pool B match.

In shooting, India claimed gold as Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh won the 10m air pistol mixed team final. Additionally, APS Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil, and Niraj Kumar secured silver in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions team event.

In badminton, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced in mixed doubles, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost their men's doubles opener to Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun.

In squash singles, Abhay Singh reached the semi-finals after defeating Japan's Ryunosuke Tsukue 3-0, and Anahat Singh also advanced to the women's singles semi-finals by beating compatriot Tanvi Khanna.