Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na Win First Asian Games Badminton Women’s Doubles Gold in 24 Years

At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sept. 29, South Korea’s Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na defeated China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning 2–1 to win the women’s doubles badminton gold medal at the Ichinomiya City Gymnasium in Japan, fnnews.com reported.

How the 111-Minute Final Unfolded

The gold medal match stretched across 1 hour and 51 minutes of intense competition between the world’s top two ranked pairs. Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, representing China as the world’s number-one-ranked duo, claimed a grueling first game 28–26 after five separate game points and an 81-shot rally that drained both sides physically. Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na recovered in the second game, securing a 21–18 victory to force a decisive third game.

With the score tied at 18–18 in the final game and both pairs three points away from the title, a turning point occurred when China’s Liu Shengshu collapsed on the court due to a left leg cramp. Medical staff rushed to the court, but Liu could not stand normally and had to receive the shuttlecock from a kneeling position.

Opting for Direct Competition Over Injury Exploitation

In standard doubles tactics, an immobilized opponent creates an obvious opening. The South Korean pair could have routed shots toward Liu to quickly secure the remaining three points needed for their gold medal in 24 years. Instead, Lee and Baek avoided targeting the injured player, directing their attacks toward Tan Ning and maintaining a conventional competitive approach against the top-ranked team.

Lee and Baek closed out the third game 21–18 to claim the gold medal. Immediately following match point, the South Korean players checked on Liu rather than celebrating on the court.

Hong Kong media outlet HK01 reported that the South Korean pair demonstrated strong sportsmanship by refusing to capitalize on an opponent’s physical distress. On Weibo, users described the victory as a display of athletic character rooted in technical play rather than exploiting an injury.

South Korea Wins First Women's Doubles Gold in 24 Years

The victory marks South Korea’s first gold medal in the women’s doubles badminton discipline at the Asian Games in 24 years. The Ichinomiya City Gymnasium final featured the world’s top-ranked Chinese pair against South Korea’s contenders in an event that tested the physical limits of both teams through extended rallies and high-pressure situations.

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