{
  "id": 8836799,
  "title": "India-Pakistan Handshake At Asian Games 2026 As Women’s Table Tennis Team Breaks From Cricket’s No-Handshake Trend",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/india-pakistan-handshake-at-asian-games-2026-as-womens-table-tennis",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T03:41:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/india-pakistan-handshake-at-asian-games-2026-as-womens-table-tennis-team-breaks-from-crickets-no-handshake-trend"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Indian women's table tennis team secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Pakistan in a Group F match at the Asian Games 2026 on Monday. This win marked India's third consecutive triumph, following earlier wins against Indonesia and Singapore, which placed the team atop the group and advanced them to the quarterfinals.\n\nThe handshake between players of the two nations after the matches garnered attention amidst the context of recent India-Pakistan cricket matches. Despite the customary sporting tradition of handshakes, cricket teams from India and Pakistan have refrained from shaking hands during several recent meetings. This trend has become more noticeable in cricket matches following increased tensions between the two countries in 2025, including women's cricket encounters.\n\nA notable incident happened when India's Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates declined to accept the trophy from Pakistan's cricket chief, Mohsin Naqvi, during the Asia Cup before the Asian Games. This refusal was in direct contrast to the handshake tradition typically observed in such situations.\n\nIn the Asian Games 2026, India's Sutirtha Mukherjee delivered a strong opening performance, defeating Aleena Khan from Pakistan in just 10 minutes. Mukherjee, who previously won a bronze medal in women's doubles at the Hangzhou Asian Games, led India to an early 1-0 lead. Her teammate, 17-year-old Syndrela Das, further extended India's lead with a swift 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 victory over Kalsoom Khan. Das, currently ranked 99th in ITTF women's singles rankings, continued her impressive form on the international stage, clinching her place on the senior Indian team for the Asian Games. Sreeja Akula wrapped up the Indian sweep with a decisive 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 win over Fatima Khan in just 11 minutes.",
  "summary": "The Indian women's table tennis team defeated Pakistan 3-0 in a one-sided Group F clash at the Asian Games on Monday. The win was India's third straight victory after earlier wins over Indonesia and Singapore, helping the team finish at the top of the group and reach the quarterfinals. However, the handshakes between players from the two teams after the matches also drew attention, especially…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Asian Games 2026: India Crush Pakistan 3-0 To Storm Into Women’s Table Tennis Quarterfinals | Watch",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/asian-games-2026-india-crush-pakistan-3-0-to-storm-into-womens-table",
        "published": "2026-09-21T02:56:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Pakistan's table tennis teams face humbling opening to Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/pakistans-table-tennis-teams-face-humbling-opening-to-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-21T05:01:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
        "title": "Japan’s Men and Women Defend Team Golds in Soft Tennis at Asian Games in Nagoya",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/japans-men-and-women-defend-team-golds-in-soft-tennis-at-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-21T06:39:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}