Maldives Take India to Deciding Game in Mixed Doubles Contest
The Maldives mixed doubles pair of Mohamed Shaffaan Ismail and Fathimath Dheema Ali pushed India to a deciding fifth game in a closely contested opening fixture at the 20th Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026.
Facing Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade, the Maldivian pair made a confident start and secured the opening game 11–9. India responded by taking the next two games 11–6 and 11–7 to move ahead in the contest.
Shaffaan and Dheema then produced a composed performance in the fourth game, holding off their opponents to win 11–9 and level the match at two games apiece.
The Indian pair regained control in the deciding game and secured it 11–6, concluding the match with a narrow 3–2 victory.
The contest placed the Maldivian pair against accomplished opposition, with Ghorpade having won the women’s singles gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships.
