The South Korea men’s national badminton team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games team event after defeating Hong Kong 3-1 at the Ichinomiya City Gymnasium in Japan.
Playing in the opening match of the tie on Monday, 21 September 2026, singles debutant Yu Tae-bin faced Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. Ranked 46th in the world, the South Korean youngster dropped the opening game to his 19th-ranked opponent. However, Yu rallied after the interval in the second game, overturning a deficit to win 21-16 before edging a tight third game 22-20.
Following the opening singles, men’s doubles pair Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae delivered a swift victory. The world number one duo dispatched their opponents in just 28 minutes with a dominant 2-0 scoreline (21-9, 21-10), preserving crucial physical energy for the later stages of the tournament.
Hong Kong briefly shifted momentum when Park Sang-yong dropped his singles match, putting South Korea down 2-1 in the tie. But doubles pairing Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju secured a 2-1 comeback victory in the fourth match to clinch the overall 3-1 team win and send South Korea into the next round alongside the women’s national team.
Quarterfinal showdown against China
South Korea’s reward for overcoming Hong Kong is a high-stakes quarterfinal clash against China, who earned a bye straight into the last eight. China enters the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya tournament pursuing its third men’s team title and boasts the most successful history in the event’s Asian Games lineage with seven gold medals since its introduction at the 1962 Jakarta Games.
The Chinese roster features talent, including Asian Games champion Li Shifeng, former world champion Shi Yuqi, and world champion men’s doubles pair Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang. South Korea aims to improve upon its previous Asian Games performance from three years prior in Hangzhou, where the men’s team captured a bronze medal after falling to India in the semifinals.
Tournament context and upcoming schedule
The badminton competitions at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games continue through the week at the Ichinomiya City Gymnasium.
Fans and analysts can follow official updates and live scores via the official 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games portal and governing body broadcasts. Join the conversation below and share your thoughts on South Korea’s medal prospects in Japan.
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