Indonesia broke China's long winning streak in men's team badminton at the 2026 Asian Games. Down 2-0 in the final, Indonesia's young squad fought back and took the gold. China had won four of the last five titles and was close to a third straight win. But Indonesia's comeback changed everything.
China looked strong early. Shi Yuqi, the world number one, beat Jonatan Christie 21-13, 21-18. Then Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang edged out Alfian and Fikri in a tight three-game doubles match. At 2-0, China seemed set for another title. But Farhan Alwi kept Indonesia alive. He outlasted Li Shifeng 23-21, 15-21, 21-16 and put Indonesia on the scoreboard.
In the decisive match, 19-year-old Zaki Ubaidillah saved four game points in the first set before clinching the second 21-13, sealing Indonesia's historic victory.
Momentum swung hard. Indonesia's doubles team, Carnando and Marthin, overpowered He Jiting and Liu Yi 23-21, 21-10. That tied the match at 2-2. Suddenly, all the pressure was on China. In the last match, 19-year-old Zaki Ubaidillah stepped up. He beat Weng Hongyang 23-21, 21-13. Indonesia completed the 3-2 comeback and won their first men's team badminton gold at the Asian Games since 1998, according to Xinhua / English.news.cn and Jakarta Globe.
This loss ends a dominant run for China. They had beaten India 3-1 in the semifinals and came in as clear favourites. Indonesia reached the final by beating Thailand 3-1, showing their depth and grit throughout the tournament, as reported by Xinhua / English.news.cn.
Indonesia's win stands out in a year full of surprises in Asian sport. It echoes the unpredictability seen in other events, as reported earlier in cue sports. The gold ends a 28-year wait and marks a generational shift in Asian badminton. Indonesia's new core now sets the pace for the region's top competitions.
Prior to this final, China had reached six consecutive Asian Games men's team finals, underlining their long-standing dominance. However, independent sources unanimously described Indonesia's win as a dramatic comeback after losing the first two matches, a narrative confirmed by both Jakarta Globe and Xinhua / English.news.cn.
This was more than just an upset. It changes the balance of power in Asian badminton. China's sense of certainty is gone. Indonesia's young team proved that smart tactics and resilience can topple even the strongest dynasties. For every team looking at future Asian Games, the message is simple: the old order is gone. The race for gold is open to anyone ready to take it.
