Indian Men's Badminton Team Clinches Bronze at Asian Games 2026

The Indian men's badminton team has clinched a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026, following a semi-final defeat against China. President Droupadi Murmu commended the team's determination and fighting spirit. The team showcased impressive performances, particularly in their quarter-final match against Japan. Despite their commendable efforts, they fell short of reaching the finals for the second consecutive time. Read on to explore the match breakdown and the team's journey to the podium.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 24, 2026, 10:31 IST

President Murmu Commends Badminton Team

President Droupadi Murmu praised the Indian men's badminton team for securing a bronze medal at the ongoing Asian Games, emphasizing that this achievement showcases the team's determination, resilience, and fighting spirit.

Match Summary

The Indian men's badminton team earned a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 after a 3-1 loss to China in the semi-finals held in Aichi, Japan, on Wednesday.

In a post on X, Murmu expressed her congratulations, stating, "Warm congratulations to the Indian Men’s Badminton Team on winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026. This commendable achievement reflects the team’s determination, resilience, and fighting spirit. Each member made a valuable contribution to this proud success. My best wishes to the entire team for future endeavours."

Semi-Final Match Breakdown

In the semi-final, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured India's only victory by defeating the reigning world champions Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang with scores of 21-11, 22-20 in the men's doubles.

Lakshya Sen faced Shi Yuqi in the opening match but lost 21-16, 21-18. Although Lakshya started strong, Shi managed to rally back, winning the first game and closing out the second after a close contest.

Satwik and Chirag, the current Asian Games men's doubles champions, showcased their skills against the world No. 3 pair, dominating the first game and maintaining composure in the second, ultimately leveling the tie at 1-1.

Ayush Shetty then fell to world No. 12 Li Shi Feng with scores of 21-19, 21-13, giving China a 2-1 lead.

In a crucial fourth match, Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun faced He Ji Ting and Liu Yi but lost 21-16, 17-21, 21-9, ending India's hopes of reaching the finals for the second consecutive time.

Path to the Podium

India secured a medal after a decisive 3-0 victory against hosts Japan in the quarter-finals, with Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag, and Ayush Shetty winning their respective matches.

Having previously won a silver medal at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, India has now finished on the podium for two consecutive editions, although they missed out on a final berth.