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India’s young Kabaddi stars didn’t just make waves with their performance at the 3rd Asian Youth Games: they also added a spicy dash of controversy. After cruising past Pakistan 81–26, the spotlight shifted to the toss, where Indian captain Ishant Rathee refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kabaddi Time (@kabadditime) Despite the pre-match drama, the Indian Kabaddi team dominated on court, adding to their flawless start at the Games. India previously dismantled Bangladesh (83–19) and Sri Lanka (89–16), asserting themselves as the team to beat. Other Instances of Recent India-Pakistan Controversy In Sport In the world of India–Pakistan sports, one thing has been made clear recently: the handshake line keeps getting redrawn. The “no-handshake” trend has been creeping into India–Pakistan sporting encounters since the Asia Cup, when Suryakumar Yadav’s cricket team declined to shake hands after their group stage clash. The Indian women’s cricket team carried the gesture forward during the 2025 Cricket World Cup, making it a recurring statement in cross-border matchups. The decisions are being made against the backdrop of recent India–Pakistan tensions, including the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 Indians lost their lives, and Operation Sindoor. In Bahrain on 20th October, the Kabaddi clash simply continued this line of silent protest. India’s Kabaddi Dominance At The 2025 Asian Youth Games This edition of the Asian Youth Games marks the first time Kabaddi is included, with seven teams battling in a round-robin format. India currently leads the table, undefeated in three games, with Iran in second place. The final showdown is scheduled for 23rd October — but whether any handshake controversies will spill over remains to be seen.
