India Beat Thailand 3-2 to Reach Asian Games Table Tennis Last Eight

India reached the women’s table tennis quarterfinals at the Asian Games 2026 after defeating Thailand 3-2 in a closely contested Round of 16 tie on Tuesday. Sreeja Akula won the deciding match after Yashaswini Ghorpade twice brought India back level, sending the team into a last-eight meeting with North Korea.

The result came after all five individual matches were needed to separate the sides. Thailand led twice during the tie, but India responded on both occasions before Sreeja recovered from an opening-game loss in the final rubber to complete the victory.

Five-match tie swings between India and Thailand

Thailand made the stronger start through Orawan Paranang, who produced a comeback win over Sreeja in the opening match. Sreeja won the first two games 11-7 and 11-1, but Paranang turned the contest around with 11-9, 11-6 and 12-10 wins to take the match 3-2.

Yashaswini answered immediately for India in another five-game contest against Suthasini Sawettabut. She opened with an 11-8 game before Suthasini won the next two, 11-5 and 11-7. Yashaswini then held off her opponent in two tight finishes, winning 11-9 and 11-9 to level the overall tie at 1-1.

Thailand regained the advantage in the third match, where Jinnipa Sawettabut defeated Diya Chitale 3-2. Jinnipa took the opening game 11-7, before Diya fought back to win 11-5 and 11-7. The Thai player responded with an 11-7 fourth game and then claimed the decisive fifth 13-11, putting Thailand one win away from progressing.

With India trailing 2-1, Yashaswini returned to face Paranang and delivered a straight-games victory. The Maharashtra paddler won 11-5, 11-8 and 11-9, blanking the player who had taken the opening match from Sreeja and forcing the team tie into a deciding fifth rubber.

Sreeja recovers to seal the quarterfinal place

Sreeja was back on the table for the decider against Suthasini. The Indian lost the opening game 11-9, increasing the pressure after Thailand’s earlier lead in the tie. She responded with an 11-6 win to draw level, then came through the closest game of the match 12-10 to move ahead.

Sreeja completed the turnaround in the fourth game, winning 11-8 for a 3-1 individual victory. Her result secured India’s 3-2 team win and ended a tie in which both sides had won two five-game matches before the final contest.

India will now play North Korea in the quarterfinals. North Korea received a bye in the Round of 16, while India’s passage came through a full-distance victory over Thailand. The quarterfinal will determine whether India can extend its run in the women’s team competition beyond the last eight.

The win was built on India’s ability to answer after each Thai lead. Yashaswini’s two victories kept the team in contention, first against Suthasini and then against Paranang, while Sreeja’s final recovery provided the match that sent India through.