Aichi-Nagoya: India secured its first table tennis medal at the Asian Games 2026 after Manush Shah and Diya Chitale stormed into the mixed doubles semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem and Wong Chun Ting on Friday.

The Indian pair produced a strong performance against the experienced Hong Kong combination, winning the quarter-final 11-6, 13-15, 11-9, 11-5. Their semifinal berth guarantees India at least a bronze medal in the mixed doubles event.

The result marks an important moment for India’s table tennis campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, particularly after both the men’s and women’s team events ended before the medal stages.

Shah and Chitale overcome Hong Kong pair

The Indian duo started the quarter-final confidently, taking the opening game 11-6. Hong Kong fought back in the second game, edging out the Indians 15-13 to level the contest.

Shah and Chitale, however, responded strongly in the third game. They secured an 11-9 win to regain the advantage before closing out the match with an 11-5 victory in the fourth.

The 3-1 result sent the Indian pair into the semifinals and ensured that the country would leave the mixed doubles competition with a medal.

Their opponents brought considerable experience to the contest. Doo Hoi Kem is a top-ranked international paddler, while Wong Chun Ting has also been a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s table tennis set-up. The Indian pair nevertheless maintained their composure during the crucial stages of the match.

India assured of first table tennis medal

The semifinal qualification means India has secured its first table tennis medal at the Asian Games 2026.

The medal comes after India’s men’s team was eliminated in the round of 16 and the women’s team exited in the quarterfinals. The mixed doubles event therefore provided another opportunity for the Indian paddlers to remain in contention for a podium finish.

India’s table tennis contingent includes several established players, with Shah and Chitale featuring in multiple events at the Games. Shah is also competing in men’s singles and men’s doubles, while Chitale is part of India’s women’s doubles and women’s team squads.

The mixed doubles success has now ensured that India’s table tennis campaign will continue into the medal rounds.

Semifinal awaits for Indian duo

Shah and Chitale will now prepare for their semifinal, where they will have another opportunity to fight for a place in the gold-medal match.

A victory in the semifinal would take the Indian pair into the final and keep their gold-medal hopes alive. A loss would result in a bronze medal, as both losing semifinalists receive bronze in the event.

The Indian duo’s progress also adds to a growing medal tally for India on Day 6 of the Asian Games. NDTV’s medal table had India on 17 medals — one gold, seven silver and nine bronze — before the latest medal assurances were reflected in the official tally.

Shah continues busy Asian Games campaign

Manush Shah has had a busy schedule in Aichi-Nagoya. Apart from the mixed doubles competition with Chitale, he is also participating in men’s singles and men’s doubles.

On Thursday, Shah began his men’s singles campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over Malaysia’s Wong Qi Shen. He won the contest 11-9, 14-12, 11-7, 11-4 to progress to the next round.

Chitale, meanwhile, is also part of India’s women’s doubles and women’s team campaigns. Her mixed doubles partnership with Shah has now delivered India’s first table tennis medal of the Games.

The result also demonstrates the importance of India’s mixed doubles combinations after the team events failed to produce a podium finish.

India target gold-medal match

With a medal already guaranteed, Shah and Chitale will now focus on reaching the final. The pair’s quarter-final performance showed their ability to recover after losing a closely fought second game and maintain control in the decisive stages.

For India, the mixed doubles semifinal represents an opportunity to add another medal to its Asian Games haul and potentially challenge for gold in table tennis.

The final colour of the medal will depend on the outcome of the remaining knockout matches. For now, Shah and Chitale have ensured that India will return to the table tennis podium at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.