Asian Games 2026: India take bronze after 1-3 semi-final loss to China in men's team event

The Indian men's badminton team settled for the bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 after a 1-3 semi-final loss to China at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Wednesday, September 23. The defeat ended their campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

India had already guaranteed a podium finish by defeating Japan to reach the semi-finals, ensuring a medal for a second consecutive edition of the Asiad. The team had won silver in 2022, and this result marked the first time since 1982-86 that the Indian men's side medalled in back-to-back Asian Games editions.

India entered the last-four clash after a 3-0 win over Japan. Lakshya Sen opened the semi-final against former world champion Shi Yuqi but was beaten 16-21, 18-21 in a gruelling match. The doubles pairing Satwik-Chirag levelled the tie at 1-1 with a 21-11, 22-20 straight-games win over Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang.

Li Shifeng, the defending men’s singles champion at the Asian Games, secured a 21-19, 21-13 win over Ayush Shetty to put China in command. That result left India facing a must-win doubles match to keep their hopes alive in the semi-final.

Arjun M. R. and Hariharan Amsakarunan then took on He Ji Ting and Liu Yi needing a win to keep India alive in the competition. The Chinese pair claimed the first game, Arjun and Hariharan rallied to take the second and force a decider, but He and Liu proved too strong in the third, winning 21-16, 17-21, 21-9.

He and Liu's victory completed a 3-1 win for China. India have won 12 medals at the Asian Games 2026 so far, including one gold, five silver and six bronze medals, and the men's badminton team clinched the bronze after their semi-final finish in the men's team event.

China's win sends them into the men's team final; India finish the event with the bronze medal.