NAGOYA, Sept 23: India’s men’s badminton team secured the bronze medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after suffering a 1-3 defeat to China in the semifinal on Wednesday.
The Indian team had entered the semifinal with hopes of reaching the gold-medal match after a strong campaign in the team event. However, China produced a decisive performance in the knockout contest to book its place in the final, leaving India with the bronze medal.
India’s only win of the tie came from the men’s doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The Indian duo defeated reigning world champions Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang 21-11, 22-20 in a closely watched encounter.
The victory was particularly significant because it came against one of the strongest doubles combinations in international badminton. Satwik and Chirag maintained their composure in the second game to close out the match in straight games and bring India back into contention.
The contest had begun with Lakshya Sen facing China’s Shi Yuqi in the opening singles match. Sen was beaten 21-16, 21-18, giving China an early advantage in the tie. India then responded through Satwik and Chirag, who levelled the contest with their victory.
The next singles match saw Ayush Shetty take on China’s Li Shifeng. The Indian youngster was unable to overcome his Chinese opponent, putting China one victory away from securing the tie.
The deciding doubles match featured MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan for India. The pair fought back after losing the opening game, taking the second 21-16. China’s Ji Ting He and Yi Lui, however, regained control in the deciding game and won 21-9 to seal a 3-1 result.
The bronze marks another podium finish for Indian men’s badminton at the Asian Games. India had won silver in the team event at the 2023 Hangzhou Games after losing to China in the final. The latest medal therefore continues India’s presence among the leading men’s badminton teams in the continental competition.
The result also came despite the absence of a place in the final. India’s campaign had demonstrated the depth available in its men’s badminton squad, with established names and younger players sharing responsibilities across singles and doubles.
For Lakshya Sen, the semifinal defeat came after he had played an important role during India’s run to the last four. Sen had entered the tournament as one of India’s leading singles players and was expected to provide a strong opening point in the tie against China.
Satwik and Chirag once again provided India with a crucial doubles victory. Their performance also underlined their status as one of the country’s principal medal contenders in major international team competitions.
The Indian team had also benefited from strong performances in earlier rounds to reach the semifinal stage. The eventual bronze means India remained on the podium for a second consecutive Asian Games edition in the men’s team event.
India’s latest medal also added to a growing haul at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The country’s campaign has featured medals across shooting, weightlifting, soft tennis and badminton, with athletes competing in a wide range of disciplines.
The defeat to China nevertheless brought the team event campaign to an end for India. The focus will now move to the individual badminton competitions, where Indian players will have further opportunities to compete for medals.
The semifinal also highlighted the competitive gap between the leading Asian badminton nations, with China advancing to the gold-medal contest after winning three of the four matches.
For India, the bronze provides another continental podium finish while leaving the team with several positives from its campaign. Satwik and Chirag’s victory over the world champions was one of the major highlights of the semifinal, while the performances of Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Arjun and Hariharan added to the team’s overall effort.
India’s men’s badminton team now joins the list of medal-winning Indian contingents at the 2026 Asian Games, with the bronze secured on September 23 after the semifinal loss to China.