The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games badminton tournament concluded its five individual event finals on Sept. 29 at the Ichinomiya City General Gymnasium, bringing the regional competition to a close with China securing two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals across the entire meet.
Jiang and Wei Claim Mixed Doubles Gold
Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin captured the mixed doubles crown on the final day by defeating Indonesia’s Siyanawati and Marlva in straight games. Making their Asian Games debut, the Chinese pair extended China’s winning streak in the discipline to three consecutive editions. When asked in a post-match press conference about overcoming a deficit and his emotional celebration on court, Jiang told reporters that his focus remained strictly on executing his own game plan, attributing his courtside reaction purely to overwhelming happiness.
Liu and Tan Suffer Decisive Injury Setback in Women’s Doubles
Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning dropped a nearly two-hour marathon to South Korea’s Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee 1-2 to claim the silver medal in a grueling final. The match featured multiple ties before Liu sustained a leg injury during a tense 18-18 deadlock in the third game, prompting a brief medical suspension. Liu returned to court despite the pain, though restricted primarily to front-court play. Following the final point, Liu collapsed onto the court floor for extended medical treatment.
Liang and Wang Reach Men’s Doubles Final After Three Decades
Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang advanced to the men’s challenge match, marking China’s first appearance in an Asian Games men’s doubles final in 36 years after falling in the round of 16 at the previous edition. Despite the milestone, the pair fell short of the gold medal. Reflecting on the campaign, the article noted that the team’s overall performance divided into mixed results in team events and struggles in singles competition, contrasting sharply with the four gold, three silver, and two bronze medals won at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Chinese Squad Secures Team Gold and Silver
Team competition brought mixed outcomes for the delegation, highlighted by the women’s squad defeating host nation Japan 3-0 to reclaim the team title for the first time in 12 years and redeem their previous loss in Hangzhou. The men’s team failed to secure a third title, dropping a 2-0 lead to fall to Indonesia in the final. The Olympic website noted that while the Chinese men established early control, mounting pressure shifted momentum once the Indonesian side settled in, leaving Li Shifeng, He Jiting, Ren Xiangyu, and Weng Hongyang unable to convert key points.
Singles Campaign Ends Without Quarterfinal Representation
Singles events proved to be the delegation’s most notable disappointment, as reigning finalists Li Shifeng and Shi Yuqi exited early to leave China without a men’s singles player in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1974. South Korean outlet StarNews reported that Shi Yuqi fell to Yu Taibin, contributing to what it described as a historic low for the program over the past 52 years. In the women’s bracket, Wang Zhiyi fell to Akane Yamaguchi in the semifinals, while Chen Yufei lost to An Se-young, leaving the team searching for answers against the sport’s top regional rivals.
National Team Prepares for European Circuit and World Tour Finals
Following the conclusion of the Nagoya tournament, the national team prepares to transition immediately to the European circuit, starting with the Arctic Open in Finland on Oct. 6, followed by the Denmark Open, French Open, and Hylo Open in Germany. The tour returns to Asia in November for stops in South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong before culminating in the BWF World Tour Finals scheduled for December in Hangzhou.
