Ichinomiya City, September 22 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian men’s badminton team has successfully reached the semifinals of the Asian Games 2026, following a commanding 3-0 victory over Japan in the quarterfinals. This win guarantees India at least a bronze medal in the tournament.
In the opening singles match, Lakshya Sen faced a tough challenge against Kodai Naraoka. After losing the first game 11-21, Lakshya fought back impressively, winning the second game 21-5. He then rallied from a five-point deficit in the deciding game, ultimately securing victory with a scoreline of 11-21, 21-5, 21-19.
Next, the Indian men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty took on Japan’s world-ranked ninth duo, Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi. The Indian pair won the first game 21-18. The second game was thrilling, with Japan saving three match points to level the score at 20-20. However, Satwik and Chirag maintained their composure, clinching the game 24-22 and giving India a 2-0 lead.
Ayush Shetty was then tasked with sealing the match against Koki Watanabe. The young Indian player controlled the first game, winning it 21-10. Although Watanabe attempted a comeback in the second game, Ayush held his ground, leading 11-5 at the halfway mark and finishing the match with a score of 21-10, 21-19. This victory ensured India’s spot in the semifinals and secured at least a bronze medal for the team.
India began its campaign with a decisive 3-0 win over Bangladesh in the round of 16. The men’s team will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between China and South Korea in the semifinals on Wednesday. This performance offers India a chance to improve upon its last tournament, where the men’s team earned a silver medal after losing to China in the finals.
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