SportsPosted at: Sep 19 2026 6:23PM


Asian Games badminton: Indian women face Kazakhstan; men start campaign against Bangladesh

New Delhi, Sep 19 (UNI) India have been handed contrasting challenges in the badminton team events at the 2026 Asian Games, with the women drawn against Kazakhstan and the men set to face Bangladesh in their respective Round of 16 ties. Both teams could then run into hosts Japan in the quarterfinals.

The team events, played in a knockout format, begin on Sunday, with the Indian women first taking the court against Kazakhstan. The five-match tie will determine whether they progress to
a potential last-eight clash with Japan, who have received a bye into the Round of 16.
A quarterfinal against Japan could produce several high-profile contests. PV Sindhu could face Akane Yamaguchi, while Unnati Hooda may come up against Tomoka Miyazaki. In doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand could be tested by Japan’s leading combinations, including Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto and Kie Nakanishi-Suzu Iwana.
China, the top seed, are in the opposite half of the women’s draw, meaning India cannot meet them before the final. South Korea could be a potential semifinal opponent, with world champion An Se-young and the women’s doubles combination of Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee among the hurdles India could face.

India's women have won only one Asian Games team medal, a bronze at the 2014 Incheon Games. That team, which featured Saina Nehwal, Sindhu and the Ashwini Ponnappa-Sikki Reddy combination, beat Thailand 3-2 before losing 1-3 to South Korea in the semifinals.

The Indian men will begin their campaign against Bangladesh on Monday. The reigning silver medallists could then meet Japan in the quarterfinals, potentially setting up a singles contest between Lakshya Sen and Kodai Naraoka. Ayush Shetty could also face Yushi Tanaka.

In doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty could come up against the Japanese pairing of Hiroki Okamura and Takuro Hoki, depending on the tie-ups.

China or South Korea could await India in the semifinals, with all four teams placed in the same half of the men's draw. Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei are in the other half, with Indonesia the top seed.

India won silver in the men’s team event at Hangzhou, losing 2-3 to China in the final. The country also enjoyed a landmark individual campaign at the Games, with Satwik and Chirag winning India’s first Asian Games badminton gold, while HS Prannoy claimed bronze in men's singles.
A 20-member Indian badminton contingent will compete across seven disciplines at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
UNI TIB BM
Tags: #Asian Games badminton: Indian women face Kazakhstan; men start campaign against Bangladesh
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