Pakistan table tennis teams face tough Asian Games start

NAGOYA: Pakistan’s table tennis teams have endured a difficult opening to the 2026 Asian Games, with the women’s side eliminated from the group stage without winning a match while the men’s team also suffered defeats in both of its opening ties.

The women’s campaign ended on Monday with a straight-games defeat against India at Sky Hall Toyota, completing a disappointing Group F run in which Pakistan failed to win even a single game.

Pakistan had already suffered identical 3-0 defeats against Singapore and Indonesia on Sunday. Their final group match against India followed the same pattern, as the young Pakistani players struggled to match their opponents’ experience and consistency.

Fifteen-year-old Aleena Khan was the first to take the table against India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee. The teenager battled for 10 minutes but was beaten 11-3, 11-3, 11-4.

Kulsoom Khan, 19, followed against Syndrela Das but was unable to change the momentum. She lost 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 as India moved closer to completing a clean sweep.

Fatima Khan then faced India’s highest-ranked player, Sreeja Akula. Fatima was beaten 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 in 11 minutes, bringing Pakistan’s women’s campaign to an abrupt end.

The opening day had been similarly challenging. Against Singapore, Aleena, Kulsoom and veteran player Nosheen Aslam were all beaten in straight games. Pakistan then suffered another 3-0 loss against Indonesia, with Fatima, Kulsoom and Nosheen unable to register a game win.

As a result, Pakistan finished the women’s group campaign without winning a single game across their three ties, highlighting the difficult challenge faced by the team against stronger Asian opposition.

The men’s team has also struggled to make an impact in Nagoya.

Pakistan lost both of their opening ties on Sunday, going down 3-0 against Iran and Indonesia. Taha Bilal and Abbas Khan were unable to win a game in either encounter, while Mohammad Khan managed to take one game against Indonesia’s Mohammad Negara.

The men’s team was scheduled to face India later on Monday, giving the players another opportunity to compete against one of the continent’s leading table tennis sides.

Pakistan’s difficult start comes as the country’s 243-member contingent competes across a wide range of sports at the Asian Games in Japan. The 20th edition of the continental event officially opened in Nagoya on September 19.

While Pakistan has made a strong start in some disciplines, including men’s hockey, where the team opened its campaign with a 9-0 victory over Thailand, table tennis has so far produced a contrasting story.

The results leave Pakistan’s table tennis players facing a difficult road ahead, with the early matches exposing the gap between the team and some of Asia’s more established table tennis nations.