At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sept. 29, South Korea’s Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na claimed the women’s doubles badminton gold medal after defeating China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning 2-1 (26-28, 21-18, 21-18) at the Ichinomiya City Gymnasium in Japan. The victory required a grueling 1-hour and 51-minute physical battle featuring a marathon 3-minute, 43-second rally.
A Grueling Final Decided in the Third Game
The clash between the world’s second-ranked South Korean duo and China’s top-ranked pair pushed both sides to their physical limits. After splitting the first two games, the match hinged on sheer endurance in the third.
The sudden physical breakdown shifted the momentum decisively. Capitalizing on a depleted Chinese defense where Tan was forced to cover the court alone, Lee and Baek secured the final points to close out the match 21-18 and seal the gold medal.
Overcoming Physical Limits for Historic Wins
Both pairs battled severe cramping as the match extended past the 110-minute mark. Following the victory, Lee revealed the physical toll the championship match took on the competitors. “Actually, of the four players on the court, cramps started hitting my legs first,” Lee said. “I kept playing because I thought it would be too unfortunate to let the match be decided by that. It seemed like the Chinese players were in even greater pain.”
The triumph continues a dominant stretch for the South Korean pair. In August, Lee and Baek captured the gold medal at the World Championships—ending a 31-year drought for South Korea in the event. Their Asian Games victory marks the nation’s first women’s doubles gold in 24 years. Reflecting on their performance after an early exit in the team event earlier in the competition, the duo described their finals effort as a “120-point game.”
Tournament Context and Next Steps
The defeat leaves the Chinese duo with the silver medal after a fiercely contested tournament that showcased the premier tier of international women’s doubles badminton.
