India’s women’s badminton team bowed out of the Asian Games 2026 after Japan won a 3-1 quarter-final victory despite PV Sindhu, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s efforts.
India’s team performance in the women’s badminton team event at the Asian Games 2026 broke down in the quarter-finals against Japan when Japan took a 3-1 victory. India went into the knock-out stage in the women’s badminton team event with a strong performance and hope of a medal, and Japan won the four games that were finished, and it will receive the call up to the next round.
The tie started with PV Sindhu playing Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in a hard-fought singles match. Sindhu had to fight back after her opponent made a positive start, but the Indian eventually got to 5-5. At the interval, Yamaguchi had a narrow 11-9 lead, but Sindhu refused to give up against the Japanese shuttler.
The Indian star stayed within touching distance and she reduced the deficit to 17-18 before drawing level at 18-18. The final few minutes of the opening game were tense, and Sindhu’s experience helped her win the game 23-21. India got a boost from the win and an early start to the quarter-final, and hopes were high.
Yamaguchi responded well in the next games. The Japanese player kept up the pressure and eventually won the second game 21-18 and dominated the deciding game. Yamaguchi won the third game 21-11, and she was able to complete the comeback and Japan was able to win the tie.
India then faced another tough singles match: Unnati Hooda against Tomoka Miyazaki. Hooda fought hard but lost the opening game 16-21. The Indian youngster showed more aggression in the second game and took an 11-4 lead that put pressure on her Japanese opponent.
Miyazaki, however, managed to overturn the deficit. She gradually made her way back in the game and was ahead 15-13. Hooda continued to fight, but Miyazaki kept control over the last exchanges and won the second game 21-18. Japan was 2-0 up, and India could no longer defend with very little margin to win.
The third match saw the Indian women’s doubles team Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand step onto the court against Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto. With India needing a win to remain alive in the tie, the pair performed and flourished.
The opening game was tight as well, and the score was at 17-17. Treesa and Gayatri were able to deal with the big moments better and produced a four-point burst to win the game 21-17. They kept that momentum going for the second game and won 21-16.
The victory reduced Japan’s lead to 2-1 and gave India new hope of a comeback. Tanvi Sharma was unable to extend the match in the fourth match against Nozomi Okuhara. Sharma faced another must-win match but could not beat the Japanese shuttler and lost 12-21, 10-21.
With the fourth match going Japan’s way, the Japanese team secured a 3-1 victory and ended India’s women’s team event campaign at the quarterfinal stage. For India, it was a disappointing end to a campaign that had promised a medal challenge.
Now Indian badminton will turn its attention to the men’s team event. Korea will be the men’s side, and the team will try to keep India’s medal chances in badminton at the Asian Games 2026. Now the focus will be on the Indian men in terms of how they can take it in the long run and keep the country’s dream alive in the sport.
