The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games badminton singles and doubles tournaments at the Ichinomiya General Gymnasium delivered a dramatic mix of breakthrough performances and high-profile exits for the Chinese national team. While top-tier contenders advanced deeper into the draw, former champions fell in early-round battles.
Women’s Singles: Chen Yufei and Wang Zhiyi Advance
Wang Zhiyi and Chen Yufei secured their places in the women’s singles quarterfinals following contrasting paths on the tournament courts. Wang opened her day against Nepal’s Rashila, dispatching her opponent in straight games with a 21-4, 21-2 scoreline to claim a spot in the Round of 16. Later in the day, Wang faced South Korea’s Kim Ga-eun. After capturing the opening game 21-14 and building an 11-6 lead in the second, Wang advanced when Kim retired from the match.
Chen Yufei also managed a busy schedule. Following an initial victory, she met Vietnam’s Nguyễn Thùy Linh in the Round of 16. Chen seized control early by taking the first game 21-10, but Nguyễn rebounded in a closely contested second game, forcing extra points before taking it 24-22. In the decider, Chen regained the initiative, closing out the match 21-12 to win 2-1 and join Wang in the quarterfinals.
Men’s Singles: Early Exits for Shi Yuqi and Li Shifeng
The men’s singles draw brought difficult results for China, as both remaining contenders were eliminated. Hangzhou Asian Games men’s singles champion Li Shifeng faced South Korea’s Choi Ji-hoon in the Round of 32. Li claimed the opening game 21-18, but Choi responded by taking the second 21-19 and sealing the decider 21-18, handing Li a 2-1 defeat that ended his defense of the title.
Teammate Shi Yuqi suffered a similar fate against South Korea’s Yu Taibin. Shi dropped the opening game 17-21 and narrowly lost a tense second game 23-25, falling 0-2 overall. With both Hangzhou medalists exiting early, China’s campaign in the men’s singles event came to a close.
Women’s and Men’s Doubles: Mixed Fortunes
In women’s doubles, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning outlasted South Korea’s Kim Hye-jeong and Lee Ye-won in a grueling 91-minute encounter. After dropping the first game 19-21, the Chinese pair leveled the match with a dominant 21-9 second game and secured the decider 21-18 for a 2-1 victory. They advance to face Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Pei-shan and Hung En-tzu. Meanwhile, Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, losing 1-2 (9-21, 21-18, 15-21).
On the men’s side, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang remain China’s sole representatives. The pair defeated Thailand’s Thongsa and Chanpong 21-15, 21-14 to reach the quarterfinals, building on their straight-games victory over a Mongolian duo in the opening round.
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