Archive · 21 Sep 2026
India and Pakistan Share Table Tennis Respect at Asian Games
India and Pakistan played each other in table tennis at the Asian Games.
India won the matchup.
The countries competed in both women’s and men’s team events.
Before the women’s match, the players stood together.
They greeted each other and the officials with handshakes or palm taps.
These gestures are normal in table tennis.
They show respect and fair play.
The players continued this tradition despite political differences between the countries.
India beat Pakistan in the Asian Games table tennis team events.
The countries met in both the women’s and men’s team events on Monday.
India’s women’s team included Sutirtha Mukherjee, Sreeja Akula and Syndrela Das.
Pakistan’s women’s team included Aleena Khan, Fatima Khan and Kalsoom Khan.
Players, coaches and officials exchanged customary nods, handshakes or palm taps before competition.
- Who
- The Indian and Pakistani table tennis teams, including their women’s players, coaches and match officials.
- What
- India beat Pakistan in Asian Games table tennis team events, while players followed customary post-match and pre-match respect rituals.
- When
- Monday.
- Where
- At the Asian Games.
- Why
- The gestures acknowledged mutual respect and fair play, even amid political differences.
- Sport
- Table tennis
- Competition
- Asian Games
- Teams involved
- India and Pakistan
- Events
- Women’s and men’s team events
- Indian women’s players
- Sutirtha Mukherjee, Sreeja Akula and Syndrela Das
- Pakistani women’s players
- Aleena Khan, Fatima Khan and Kalsoom Khan
- Rituals
- Nods, handshakes and palm taps with opponents, coaches and officials