India's Asian Games Badminton Loss Highlights Fitness Concerns
· Sports · Indian Express, NDTV Sports
India lost 3-1 to China in the Asian Games men's team badminton semifinal in Hangzhou on September 23, 2026, after a quarterfinal win over Japan. Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty struggled in their singles matches, unable to maintain intensity against top Chinese players following a high-tempo victory just 24 hours earlier. Sen lost 21-16, 21-18 to world number one Shi Yuqi, while Shetty was defeated by Li Shifeng. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured India's sole point with a 21-11, 22-20 win over world champions Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang. The loss raised concerns about India's ability to sustain performance across back-to-back knockout days in major tournaments.
Why it matters
The defeat exposes a recurring issue for Indian badminton in maintaining peak fitness during multi-day tournaments, affecting medal prospects in events like the Olympics and World Championships. It highlights the need for better recovery strategies and squad depth to compete consistently against elite international opposition.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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