Aichi-Nagoya: Indonesia are Asian Games men’s team badminton champions again — and they did it the hard way.
Trailing 2-0 against defending champions China in the final at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Thursday, Indonesia roared back to win 3-2 at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, ending China’s bid for a third straight title and claiming their first men’s team gold since 1998.
It is one of the great comebacks in Asian Games badminton history.
Watch: China vs Indonesia – 2026 Asian Games Men’s Team Final
Watch the full men’s team badminton final on the official Asian Games TV platform.
China take command early
The final started exactly as the form book said it would. Former world champion Shi Yuqi put China ahead with a 21-13, 21-18 win over Jonatan Christie in the opening singles, and Wang Chang and Liang Weikeng doubled the lead, edging Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 22-20, 19-21, 21-14 in the first doubles.
Watch highlights of Jonatan Christie vs. Shi Yuqi in the 2026 Asian Games men’s team final:
At 2-0, with the trophy one win away, China looked home and dry.
Alwi Farhan starts the fightback
Alwi Farhan had other ideas. The Indonesian second singles outlasted Li Shifeng 23-21, 15-21, 21-16 in a three-game battle to put his side on the board — and suddenly the momentum of the tie shifted.
Watch highlights of Alwi Farhan vs. Li Shifeng in the 2026 Asian Games men’s team final:
Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin rode that momentum into the second doubles, needing just 45 minutes to sweep past He Jiting and Liu Yi 23-21, 21-10. At 2-2, the final was going the distance.
Ubaidillah, 19, delivers the gold
Everything came down to the deciding singles: 19-year-old Zaki Ubaidillah against Weng Hongyang, the Hangzhou Asian Games individual gold medalist.
Ubaidillah saved four game points to steal the first game 23-21, then raced to a 6-1 lead in the second and never let go, closing it out 21-13 to seal the title for Indonesia and spark wild celebrations.
Watch highlights of Zaki Ubaidillah vs. Weng Hongyang in the 2026 Asian Games men’s team final:
It was the second time in three days the teenager had decided a tie for his country — he also won the fifth rubber against Malaysia in the quarterfinals.
Indonesia’s road to gold
Indonesia had already shown their fighting spirit in the semifinals, coming from a match down to beat Thailand 3-1. Kunlavut Vitidsarn stunned Jonatan Christie 21-17, 21-14 in the opener, but Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri levelled, Alwi Farhan put Indonesia ahead, and Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin finished the job.
Heartbreak for China, history for India
China had reached the final with a 3-1 semifinal win over India — a result that still gave India a historic first-ever Asian Games medal in the men’s team badminton event, and only their second badminton podium at the Games after Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s doubles gold in Hangzhou.
For China, the wait for a third straight men’s team title goes on.
Final score: Indonesia 3-2 China
- Men’s singles 1: Shi Yuqi (China) def. Jonatan Christie (Indonesia) 21-13, 21-18
- Men’s doubles 1: Feng Yanzhe / Liang Weikeng (China) def. Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (Indonesia) 22-20, 19-21, 21-14
- Men’s singles 2: Alwi Farhan (Indonesia) def. Li Shifeng (China) 23-21, 15-21, 21-16
- Men’s doubles 2: Leo Rolly Carnando / Daniel Marthin (Indonesia) def. He Jiting / Liu Yi (China) 23-21, 21-10
- Men’s singles 3: Zaki Ubaidillah (Indonesia) def. Weng Hongyang (China) 23-21, 21-13
Indonesia’s first men’s team badminton gold in 28 years — sealed by a 19-year-old in a deciding rubber, from 0-2 down against the defending champions. The badminton news out of Aichi-Nagoya does not get bigger than this.
