In women’s badminton, Japan ended India’s campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Ichinomiya City today, winning the quarter-final 3-1 after taking all three singles matches against the Indian side.
Key Takeaways:
- Japan defeated India 3-1 to enter the women’s badminton semi-finals.
- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured India’s only win in the quarter-final.
- India’s women shuttlers will now shift their attention to the individual events.
India’s women’s badminton campaign at the 2026 Asian Games ended in the quarter-finals after Japan recorded a 3-1 victory in Ichinomiya City today on September 22.
Japan took control of the tie by winning the first two singles matches. PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda could not convert their respective opportunities against their Japanese opponents.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand then kept India alive with a strong performance in the women’s doubles. However, Tanvi Sharma could not complete the comeback as Nozomi Okuhara secured Japan’s winning point in the fourth rubber.
Japan Take Early Control
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu featured in the opening rubber against three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi.
Sindhu showed strong resilience in the first game. She initially trailed 6-10 but fought back to level the score at 12-12.
The Indian shuttler then faced another difficult phase after falling 15-18 behind. She responded once again and saved a game point before taking the opening game 23-21.
Yamaguchi responded in the second game. She controlled the exchanges and won 21-18 to force a decider.
The Japanese player maintained her advantage in the final game. She won it 21-11 to give Japan the first point of the tie.
Hooda Fights Before Japan Extend Lead
Unnati Hooda faced Yamaguchi in the second rubber at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
Hooda held a narrow 11-10 advantage at the interval in the opening game. She could not maintain that momentum after the break.
Yamaguchi raised her level and turned the contest around. She took the first game 21-16 and moved Japan closer to victory.
Hooda started the second game strongly. The Indian player built a 11-4 lead and appeared to be in control.
The Japanese shuttler, however, staged another comeback. She gradually reduced the deficit and moved ahead 16-15 as the game entered its closing stages.
Yamaguchi then prevented Hooda from regaining control. She closed out the second game 21-18 and gave Japan a 2-0 lead.
Treesa-Gayatri Keep India Alive
With India two points behind, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand produced the team’s only victory in the tie.
The World Championships bronze medallists defeated Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-17, 21-16 in the third rubber.
The straight-game victory reduced Japan’s lead to 2-1 and briefly kept India’s quarter-final hopes alive.
The Indian pair needed another victory from the remaining singles rubber to take the contest further.
Okuhara Seals Japan’s Quarter-Final Win
Tanvi Sharma took on Nozomi Okuhara in the decisive fourth rubber.
Okuhara, an Olympic medallist and former world No. 1, controlled the contest and defeated Tanvi 21-12, 21-10.
The victory gave Japan a 3-1 result and ended India’s women’s team campaign at the Asian Games.
India had lost all three singles matches in the tie. Sindhu and Hooda went down in the opening two rubbers before Tanvi suffered defeat in the deciding contest.
Focus Now Shifts to Individual Events
The women’s team competition is now over for India. The Indian women shuttlers will turn their attention to the individual events.
The Indian men’s team, meanwhile, is scheduled to face Japan in its quarter-final later.
India’s women have won only one Asian Games team medal. Their previous medal came at the 2014 Incheon Games, where they secured bronze.
At the 2023 edition, India’s women also exited at the quarter-final stage. Thailand defeated them 3-0 in that contest.
The 2026 campaign therefore ends at the same stage, with India’s women now set to focus on their individual events. (Edited by Enewstime Desk)