Asian Games 2026: India beats Thailand in thriller to face North Korea in table tennis women’s team quarterfinals

FILE PHOTO: Sreeja Akula held her nerve and recovered from being a game down to win the decider. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

India entered the table tennis women’s team quarterfinals after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Thailand at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday.

It will now face North Korea, which received a bye in the Round of 16, in the last-eight stage.

It was Yashaswini Ghorpade who brought India back into the contest on two occasions against the Thai, while Sreeja Akula saw the win home in the decider after an early stumble.

The first match of the tie saw Thai paddler Orawan Paranang mount a tremendous comeback, recovering from being two games down and clinching a 3-2 (7-11, 1-11, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10) over India’s top-ranked player Sreeja.

Yashaswini then got India level with a 3-2 (11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9) win over Suthasini Sawettabut, but Thailand prevailed in another five-game thriller with Jinnipa Sawettabut beating Diya Chitale 3-2 (11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 13-11).

India needed Yashaswini to save its blushes as the Maharashtra paddler blanked Paranang 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-9) to force a decider.

Sreeja returned, this time against Suthasini. The Indian held her nerve and recovered from being a game down to beat the Thai paddler 3-1 (9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8).

Published on Sep 22, 2026

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