India’s men’s and women’s badminton teams kicked off their Asian Games campaign in emphatic fashion, both securing dominant 3-0 victories to march into the quarterfinals.
Powered by effortless straight-game wins from their marquee singles players, the Indian contingents sent a clear message to the rest of the field as they turn their sights toward potential medal-clinching encounters.
Men’s Team Delivers Flawless Sweep Against Bangladesh
The Indian men’s team, aiming to build on their historic silver-medal performance at the previous Asian Games, made quick work of Bangladesh in their opening tie. Commencing the campaign with absolute precision, India did not drop a single game across all three singles fixtures, rendering the scheduled doubles matches unnecessary.
| Match | Indian Player | Opponent (Bangladesh) | Score |
| MS1 | Lakshya Sen | Ayman Ibn Jaman | 21-4, 21-12 |
| MS2 | Ayush Shetty | Gourab Singha | 21-4, 21-13 |
| MS3 | Kidambi Srikanth | Al Amin Jumar | 21-15, 21-9 |
Lakshya Sen set the pace early in the opening rubber against Ayman Ibn Jaman. Displaying sharp court coverage and rapid attacking play, Sen blew through the opening set before wrapping up a commanding 21-4, 21-12 victory.
Rising star Ayush Shetty kept the momentum rolling in the second singles match against Gourab Singha. Matching Sen’s intensity, Shetty overwhelmed his opponent with a 21-4, 21-13 win to give India an insurmountable 2-0 lead.
Veteran shuttler Kidambi Srikanth then stepped up to seal the tie. Facing Al Amin Jumar, Srikanth controlled the pace from the start, closing out a convincing 21-15, 21-9 win to wrap up the 3-0 team sweep.
Women’s Team Sweeps Kazakhstan to Set Up Medal Clash
Matching the men’s dominant showing, India’s women’s team routed Kazakhstan 3-0 in their Round of 16 encounter. Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu led the charge alongside promising talents Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma. All three shuttlers delivered clinical, straight-game performances to comfortably book India’s spot in the last eight.
The victory sets up a high-stakes quarterfinal tie against formidable contenders Japan. A victory in the next round will guarantee India a medal in the women’s team event—a feat last achieved when India claimed bronze in 2014.
The Road Ahead
With both squads advancing effortlessly, the competition level rises drastically in the next round. The Indian men’s team could face a stern test against Japan as they push toward another podium finish, while the women’s team stands just one victory away from securing a historic medal.
