Asian Games 2026: Indian men shuttlers assured of a medal; women crash out

Indian badminton teams had a mixed day at the Asian Games, with the men assuring themselves of a medal after winning 3-0 against host Japan in the quarterfinal, while the women went down 1-3 to the home team at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).

Also Read: Asian Games updates on September 22, 2026

It’s the first time in 40 years that the men’s team has won back-to-back medals at the Asian Games. The women, however, continue to wait for their first medal since the bronze in 2014.

Lakshya Sen came back from a game down to win the opening match against Kodai Naraoka to set the tone. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty then overcame Hoki Takuro and Yugo Kobayashi in straight games to make it 2-0 before Ayush Shetty sealed the tie with a comprehensive win to ensure back-to-back podium finish for the Indian men.

Playing Japan in Japan is never easy and it looked like Lakshya’s recent spate of early exits would return to haunt the Indian team when he lost the opening game tamely 11-21. But the 25-year-old proved he was not to be counted out, winning the second 21-5, including a massive 16-point lead. The decider was a tense affair with Lakshya trailing 13-19 before reeling off eight straight points to take the match and put India ahead 1-0.

Satwik and Chirag then kept things in control with a 21-18, 24-22 win in 56 minutes in the doubles before Ayush thrashed Koki Watanabe. The 21-year-old’s 21-10, 21-19 win was his first in three meetings against the rival.

The women, however, were unable to find their rhythm. P.V. Sindhu, who started the proceedings, got off to a good start against World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi but was unable to sustain the momentum, losing 23-21, 18-21, 6-21. Sindhu, who has beaten Yamaguchi thrice in four meetings this year, ran out of steam in the third game.

Unnati Hooda couldn’t find a way past 2022 World Junior champion Tomoka Miyazaki to lose 16-21, 18-21 as Japan, buoyed by a vociferous crowd, moved 2-0 ahead.

Recent World Championships bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand gave some hope with a 21-17, 21-16 win against the world No.3 pair of Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto. But former World champion Nozomi Okuhara outplayed Tanvi Sharma 21-12, 21-10 in just 18 minutes to wrap up the tie.