India’s women’s doubles campaign at the Asian Games 2026 came to an abrupt end as Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale suffered a hard‑fought defeat against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva and Anna Danilina.
The Indian duo battled valiantly but lost 7‑5, 3‑6, 5‑10 in a contest that went down to the deciding match tie‑break. Despite taking the opening set, Ankita and Rutuja struggled to maintain momentum, allowing the Kazakh pair to bounce back and seal victory in the final stretch.
The result marks a disappointing exit for India in the women’s doubles category, though the team showed resilience against higher‑ranked opponents.
Meanwhile, India’s singles hope Sumit Nagal saw his match postponed due to persistent rain in Nagoya. His clash has been rescheduled for September 29, adding to the weather disruptions that have already impacted several events at the Games.
With Ankita‑Rutuja bowing out, India’s focus now shifts to Nagal’s campaign and other tennis events, as the nation continues its hunt for medals in a challenging tournament marked by unpredictable conditions.
