Indonesia wins first 2026 Asian Games gold, beats China in badminton

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4 hours ago

Aichi, Japan (ANTARA) – Indonesia won its first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan on Thursday after its men’s badminton team edged China 3-2.

Indonesia’s victory in the men’s team event also denied China a sweep of the badminton team titles at the 2026 Asian Games, following its gold-medal win in the women’s team event.

The decisive result was secured by men’s singles player Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah, who won the fifth and final match 23-21, 21-13 against China’s Weng Hongyang.

“I am truly happy and proud, and grateful to have won without injury. We were down 0-2 at first, but I tried not to let negative thoughts get to me,” Ubaidillah said after the match.

He said he felt no pressure entering the deciding fifth match with the team’s fate on his shoulders. Instead, he managed the situation effectively and delivered a solid performance.

“I kept reassuring myself to stay calm on the court, and the coach also gave me confidence,” Ubaidillah said.

With the gold medal added to its tally, Indonesia has now secured 20 medals: one gold, four silvers, and 15 bronzes.

Indonesia’s women’s badminton team had earlier secured a bronze medal after losing 0-3 to China in the semifinals on Wednesday (September 23).

The Central Board of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PP PBSI) commended both the men’s and women’s teams for their hard work, saying their performances had met expectations at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.