Asian Games: India's title defence gains momentum with kabaddi win, table tennis sweep

Aichi-Nagoya, Sept 21 (UNI) India began their Asian Games 2026 title defence in kabaddi with a dominant 42-21 victory over Bangladesh in the women's Group A opener on Monday, while the table tennis team completed a 3-0 sweep of Pakistan.

The reigning champions controlled the kabaddi contest from the outset, taking a commanding 21-10 lead at half-time after inflicting an all-out on Bangladesh. India maintained their grip in the second half to seal a convincing 42-21 victory. They will face Iran in their second Group A match on Wednesday. In table tennis, India completed a 3-0 win over Pakistan in their final Group F tie, with Payas Jain completing the sweep by defeating Muhammad Khan 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-7).

Earlier, Harmeet Desai beat Muhammad Khan 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-5), while Sathiyan Gnanasekaran defeated Abbas Khan 3-0 (11-1, 11-8, 11-9) to put India 2-0 ahead. India's women's table tennis team had also beaten Pakistan earlier in the day to advance to the knockouts, completing a double over their neighbours. In shooting, India were placed third in the women's skeet team event after the opening day with 132 points.

Olympian Raiza Dhillon was the leading Indian in the individual standings at ninth with 46 points, while Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari occupied 14th and 16th positions with 44 and 42 points respectively. The event will resume on Tuesday, with medals at stake. India were sixth in the men's skeet team event with 136 points after Day 1.

Asian Games medallist Anantjeet Singh was 21st in the individual standings with 47 points, while two-time Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Bhavtegh Singh were placed 26th and 27th with 45 and 44 points respectively. The men's and women's skeet competitions will resume on Tuesday, when the medals will be decided.

Earlier in the day, India opened their medal account with Rudrankksh Patil, Himanshu Dhillon and Parth Mane winning a medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event, while Suchika Tariyal added a bronze in MMA.

UNI BDN