Aichi-Nagoya: China will finish the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games without a men’s singles badminton medal for the first time since beginning its Asian Games participation in 1974.
The historic setback was confirmed after former world No. 1 Shi Yuqi and defending champion Li Shifeng were both eliminated before the semifinals, a dramatic reversal from the previous Asian Games when the two Chinese players contested the gold-medal match.
While China’s men’s singles campaign ended early, Chen Yu Fei and Wang Zhi Yi kept the country firmly in contention in women’s singles by advancing to the semifinals.
Shi Yuqi Stunned by Yoo Tae Bin
World No. 6 Shi suffered one of the tournament’s biggest upsets in the round of 16, losing 17-21, 23-25 to South Korea’s Yoo Tae Bin.
Shi stayed close in a tense second game but was unable to force a decider, leaving China without one of its leading medal contenders.
- Winner: Yoo Tae Bin of South Korea
- Defeated: Shi Yuqi of China
- Score: 21-17, 25-23
- Round: Round of 16
@mssportsii Yoo Tae Bin beat Shi Yuqi!
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Yoo Tae Bin Continues Surprise Run
World No. 46 Yoo did not stop with his victory over Shi.
The Korean followed it with another major result in the quarterfinals, recovering from a game down to defeat Japan’s world No. 7 Kodai Naraoka 12-21, 21-5, 21-11.
Yoo will now face Singapore’s world No. 13 Loh Kean Yew for a place in the final.
Loh Kean Yew Eliminates Jonatan Christie
Loh produced another notable quarterfinal result by defeating Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 21-14, 21-19.
The former world champion controlled the opening game and held his nerve through a much tighter second to secure his semifinal place.
- Winner: Loh Kean Yew of Singapore
- Defeated: Jonatan Christie of Indonesia
- Score: 21-14, 21-19
Watch Loh Kean Yew vs Jonatan Christie Highlights
Source: YouTube
Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Alwi Farhan Set Up Other Semifinal
Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn remains in contention for another major title after surviving a three-game quarterfinal against Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long.
The Thai world No. 2 recovered from losing the opening game to win 16-21, 21-10, 21-13.
He will face Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan, who produced a dominant 21-10, 21-11 victory over Chinese Taipei’s world No. 5 Chou Tien Chen.
- Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) beat Angus Ng Ka Long (Hong Kong) 16-21, 21-10, 21-13
- Alwi Farhan (Indonesia) beat Chou Tien Chen (Chinese Taipei) 21-10, 21-11
China’s Long Asian Games Men’s Singles Medal Streak Ends
With both Shi and defending champion Li Shifeng eliminated, China will have no representative on the men’s singles podium.
China had medaled in the event at every Asian Games it had contested since 1974, making the 2026 result an unusual setback for one of badminton’s traditional powers.
China remains the most successful country in Asian Games men’s singles with eight gold medals, followed closely by Indonesia with seven. Malaysia’s lone title came through Punch Gunalan at the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games.
2026 Asian Games Men’s Singles Semifinals
- Yoo Tae Bin (South Korea) vs Loh Kean Yew (Singapore)
- Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) vs Alwi Farhan (Indonesia)
Chen Yu Fei and Wang Zhi Yi Keep China in Women’s Singles Hunt
China’s women enjoyed a much stronger quarterfinal round, with both Chen Yu Fei and Wang Zhi Yi advancing to the medal stage.
Chen had to recover from a difficult start against India’s P. V. Sindhu. After dropping the opening game 11-21, the Chinese star fought back to win 21-18, 21-10.
- Chen Yu Fei (China) beat P. V. Sindhu (India) 11-21, 21-18, 21-10
Chen will next face world No. 1 An Se Young, who defeated Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon 21-8, 21-19.
- An Se Young (South Korea) beat Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) 21-8, 21-19
Wang Zhi Yi to Face Akane Yamaguchi
World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi had a much more comfortable quarterfinal, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Lin Hsiang Ti 21-7, 21-12.
Her semifinal opponent will be Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, who needed three games to overcome India’s Unnati Hooda 21-16, 14-21, 21-17.
- Wang Zhi Yi (China) beat Lin Hsiang Ti (Chinese Taipei) 21-7, 21-12
- Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) beat Unnati Hooda (India) 21-16, 14-21, 21-17
2026 Asian Games Women’s Singles Semifinals
- An Se Young (South Korea) vs Chen Yu Fei (China)
- Wang Zhi Yi (China) vs Akane Yamaguchi (Japan)
China’s men’s singles campaign may have ended without a medal, but the women’s draw still gives the country two opportunities to reach the final. With An Se Young, Chen Yu Fei, Wang Zhi Yi and Akane Yamaguchi all remaining, the women’s singles semifinals bring together four of the biggest names in world badminton.
