Players of team China cheer and pose ahead of the women's team final match of badminton between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China reclaimed the Asian Games badminton women's team title with a 3-0 sweep of Japan here on Thursday, ending a gold-medal drought that spanned the last two editions of the Games.
Wang Zhiyi got China off to a strong start, rallying past Akane Yamaguchi 14-21, 21-19, 21-17. Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning then held their nerves in a tight doubles battle to edge Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-16, 25-23. Chen Yufei closed out the tie, cruising past Tomoka Miyazaki 21-10, 21-11.
The title is China's first in the event since Incheon 2014. ■
Players of team China cheer and pose ahead of the women's team final match of badminton between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Wang Zhiyi of team China reacts in the singles match against Yamaguchi Akane of team Japan during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Wang Zhiyi of team China competes in the singles match against Yamaguchi Akane of team Japan during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Wang Zhiyi of team China competes in the singles match against Yamaguchi Akane of team Japan during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Yamaguchi Akane of team Japan competes in the singles match against Wang Zhiyi of team China during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Wang Zhiyi of team China competes in the singles match against Yamaguchi Akane of team Japan during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept.24, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Wang Zhiyi (R) of team China celebrates after winning the singles match against Yamaguchi Akane of team Japan during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Wang Zhiyi of team China competes in the singles match against Yamaguchi Akane of team Japan during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (L) of team China compete in the doubles match against Fukushima Yuki/Matsumoto Mayu of team Japan during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (R) of team China compete in the doubles match against Fukushima Yuki/Matsumoto Mayu of team Japan during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)
Fukushima Yuki/Matsumoto Mayu (R) of team Japan compete in the doubles match against Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning of team China during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Liu Shengshu (R)/Tan Ning of team China compete in the doubles match against Fukushima Yuki/Matsumoto Mayu of team Japan during during the badminton women's team final between China and Japan at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Ichinomiya of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
