Asian Games 2026: India’s men’s badminton team has secured a medal at the Asian Games after producing a superb 3-0 victory over hosts Japan in the quarterfinals. Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Ayush Shetty all won their respective matches as India completed a clean sweep and booked a place in the semifinals.
The result is another important moment for Indian badminton. After winning silver in the men’s team event at the previous Asian Games, India has now guaranteed another team medal in 2026. It also marks the first time since 1986 that India has secured men’s team badminton medals at consecutive Asian Games editions. India had won bronze in the men’s team event at Seoul 1986 before finishing runners-up at Hangzhou 2022.
The victory was especially impressive because India had to overcome the host nation in front of its home crowd. Japan had several high-ranked players in its lineup, but India handled the pressure brilliantly and finished the tie without dropping a single match.
Lakshya Sen produces stunning comeback
India’s campaign began with Lakshya Sen taking on Japan’s Kodai Naraoka. On paper, it was always expected to be a fascinating singles battle, and the match lived up to the billing.
Naraoka started strongly and took the opening game 21-11. Lakshya, however, refused to let the early setback affect him. The Indian shuttler completely changed the momentum in the second game, taking control of the rallies and winning it 21-5.
That set up a tense deciding game.
The third game went down to the wire, with Naraoka putting Lakshya under serious pressure. At one stage, the Indian was trailing 14-19 and Japan appeared to be closing in on the first point of the tie.
What happened next was the turning point of the entire quarterfinal.
Lakshya produced a remarkable comeback and won seven points in a row to turn a 14-19 deficit into a 21-19 victory. His final score read 11-21, 21-5, 21-19, giving India a 1-0 lead.
It was exactly the kind of performance India needed at the start of such an important team tie. Lakshya not only won the opening match but also put Japan under immediate pressure.
Satwik-Chirag double India’s lead
India’s famous doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty then walked onto the court with an opportunity to put the team one win away from the semifinals.
The Indian pair faced Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi. The match lasted 56 minutes and was much closer than the final scoreline might suggest.
Satwik and Chirag eventually prevailed 21-18, 24-22.
The second game was particularly tense, with both teams fighting hard during the closing stages. India kept its composure when the pressure was at its highest and managed to close out the game without allowing Japan to force a decider.
With the doubles victory, India moved 2-0 ahead.
That meant Japan had to win the remaining three matches to turn the tie around. For India, meanwhile, just one more victory was needed to secure a semifinal place and guarantee a medal.
Ayush Shetty finishes the job
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty was given the responsibility of finishing the quarterfinal, and he delivered when his team needed him most.
Ayush faced Japan’s Koki Watanabe, a player ranked among the world’s top 20. Despite the occasion and the pressure of knowing that a win would send India into the semifinals, Ayush played with confidence.
He won the opening game 21-10 and continued to control the contest in the second. Watanabe tried to fight back, but Ayush stayed composed and closed out the match 21-19.
The 21-10, 21-19 victory completed India’s 3-0 sweep.
There was no need for a fourth or fifth match. India had done the job in straight fashion.
The victory was also significant for Ayush personally, as he showed that India has depth beyond its established stars. With Lakshya leading the singles charge and Satwik-Chirag providing experience and quality in doubles, performances such as Ayush’s can give India another dimension in team competition.
Another Asian Games medal for Indian badminton
The guaranteed medal continues India’s strong record in badminton at the Asian Games.
At Hangzhou 2022, India’s badminton contingent enjoyed one of its most successful Asian Games campaigns, collecting three medals overall, including the men’s team silver. The men’s team went all the way to the final before losing to China.
The 2026 men’s team medal therefore gives India another podium finish in one of the sport’s most competitive team events in Asia.
The historical connection with 1986 makes the achievement even more interesting. India won a bronze medal in the men’s team event at the Seoul Asian Games that year. Forty years later, the country has once again secured medals in consecutive editions, following the silver won in 2022.
However, the Indian team will not want to stop at a guaranteed medal.
The colour of the medal is still to be decided.
India now eyeing a place in the final
With the quarterfinal victory complete, India moves into the men’s badminton team semifinals at the Asian Games 2026.
The semifinal opponent is set to come from the other side of the draw, with China and South Korea among the teams in contention.
The next challenge will be considerably different. India will once again need its leading players to perform under pressure, while the depth of the squad could become crucial if the semifinal tie goes deep.
For Lakshya Sen, the comeback against Naraoka could provide plenty of confidence. For Satwik and Chirag, the ability to close out a tight second game against a quality Japanese pair will also be encouraging.
And Ayush Shetty’s performance adds another positive to the Indian camp.
India has already secured a medal. Now the focus shifts from simply reaching the podium to fighting for a place in the gold-medal match.
The men’s badminton team has given Indian fans another reason to follow the Asian Games closely. After a dramatic comeback, a composed doubles performance and a confident finish from Ayush, the team has shown that it can handle pressure when the stakes are high.
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