India’s young Kabaddi squad is off to a scorching, undefeated start at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, but their victory over rivals Pakistan has been overshadowed by a moment of high-stakes sporting diplomacy-or lack thereof.
The Indian team absolutely demolished their Pakistani counterparts, securing a massive 81-26 win. However, the real tension surfaced before the game even began. Indian captain Ishant Rathee notably refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart during the ceremonial toss, continuing a new, silent trend in recent India-Pakistan sporting encounters.
This Kabaddi incident in Bahrain on October 20th is the latest chapter in a growing “no-handshake” policy adopted by various Indian teams across sports. The gesture, perceived as a silent protest, has been creeping into cross-border matchups since the Asia Cup, when the men’s cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, declined the post-match handshake. The Indian women’s cricket team followed suit at the 2025 Cricket World Cup.
These actions are unfolding against a backdrop of heightened India-Pakistan tensions, including the recent tragic Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, signaling that the sports arena is now reflecting the complex political atmosphere between the nations.
Controversy aside, the Indian team is proving to be the undisputed powerhouse of the inaugural Kabaddi event at the Asian Youth Games. They have made light work of all their opponents, previously crushing Bangladesh (83-19) and Sri Lanka (89-16).
The tournament features seven teams competing in a round-robin format, and India currently sits atop the table with a flawless record, followed by Iran. The focus now shifts to the final showdown on October 23rd, where the sports world will be watching to see if the Kabaddi stars secure gold, and whether the handshake controversy makes an unwelcome return.