Zaki the hero as Indonesia edge China to end 28-year wait for team gold

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 25, 2026

Indonesia won the men's team badminton gold at the Asian Games with a 3-2 comeback victory over defending champions China, ending a 28-year title drought. This victory not only prevented China from achieving a third consecutive team title but also provided a major boost to Indonesia's badminton program after earlier setbacks this year.

Indonesia secured the men's team badminton gold medal at the Asian Games on Thursday, ending a 28-year title drought with a 3-2 victory over defending champions China. The final took place at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan.

The match saw a dramatic comeback after Indonesia trailed 0-2 early on. Jonatan Christie opened the contest but was unable to overcome Shi Yuqi, losing in straight games 13-21, 18-21. Following this, the Indonesian men's doubles pairing of Fajar Alfian and Shohibul Fikri also fell short, dropping a tightly contested three-game match 20-22, 21-19, 14-21 to Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang.

With China just one win away from retaining their title, Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan responded strongly by defeating Li Shifeng 23-21, 15-21, 21-16, keeping Indonesia’s hopes alive. The Indonesian duo Leo Rolly and Daniel Marthin then evened the score by overcoming He Jiting and Liu Yi in straight games, 23-21, 21-10.

The decisive fifth match featured Moh Zaki Ubaidillah against Weng Hongyang. Zaki delivered under pressure, winning 23-21, 21-13 to clinch the gold for Indonesia. This victory marked Indonesia's first men's team gold at the Asian Games since their triumph in Bangkok in 1998, where they also secured the title by defeating China.

The win provided a significant boost for Indonesia's badminton program, especially following a disappointing Thomas Cup campaign earlier in the year in Horsens, Denmark, where Indonesia failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the tournament's history.

For China, the defeat ended their quest to become the first nation to win three consecutive Asian Games men's team titles, having previously claimed gold in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2022. The loss was a setback for the defending champions, underscoring the growing competitiveness in men's team badminton at the continental level.

Indonesia’s triumph also marked the nation’s first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which began on September 19, signaling a strong start to their overall campaign.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.