Asian Youth Games Kabaddi: Pakistani skipper withdraws handshake after Indian captain’s indifferent response | WATCH

India’s Kabaddi team secured a commanding 81-26 victory over Pakistan at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain on October 20th. The match drew attention not only for India’s dominant performance but also for a pre-game incident: Indian captain Ishant Rathee declined to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart during the toss. While the Pakistani skipper initially extended his hand, he withdrew it after noticing Rathee’s indifferent response. Both teams later completed the customary handshake after the match.

This win adds to India’s earlier victories against Bangladesh (83-19) and Sri Lanka (89-16), maintaining an undefeated record and keeping India at the top of the tournament standings, with Iran in second place. The final matches are scheduled for October 23rd, marking the culmination of Kabaddi’s debut at the Asian Youth Games.

The non-handshake gesture reflects a broader trend in India-Pakistan sports encounters, following similar actions by Indian cricket teams during the Asia Cup and the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent response, Operation Sindoor.

India’s strong performance throughout the tournament underscores their dominance in Kabaddi, demonstrating both skill and consistency as they aim to clinch the inaugural Kabaddi title at the Asian Youth Games. (With inputs from Agencies)