Badminton Contributes Indonesia's First Gold Medal at the 2026 Asian Games

Indonesia has finally secured its first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. The Red and White contingent's maiden gold came from the men's badminton team event, after Indonesia defeated China in a dramatic final held at Ichinomiya City Sports Gymnasium.

Moh Zaki Ubaidillah emerged as Indonesia's match decider. Stepping out for the fifth and deciding rubber, Ubed beat Weng Hongyang in straight games with scores of 23-21, 21-13. This victory officially locked in Indonesia's first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Ubed's win carried even greater weight as Indonesia had found itself in a desperate position early in the tie. The Red and White team trailed 0-2 after Jonatan Christie, followed by the pairing Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, fell in the opening two matches.

This situation put China firmly in control, needing only one more win to claim the gold medal. However, Indonesia refused to allow the tie to end without a fight.

Alwi Farhan sparked Indonesia's fightback. The Indonesian men's singles shuttler cut the deficit to 1-2, before Leo Rolly Carnando / Daniel Marthin levelled the tie at 2-2.

Momentum had swung fully to the Red and White camp. Indonesia entered the deciding fifth match with the chance to turn the tie around and claim their first 2026 Asian Games gold.

Ubed rose to the pressure with aggressive, controlled play against Weng Hongyang. The first game was tightly contested right to the end, before Ubed closed it out 23-21.

Ubed's confidence only grew in the second game. He maintained command of the rallies and finished the match with a convincing 21-13 victory.

This result completed Indonesia's remarkable 0-2 comeback win over China in the men's badminton team final. Ubed did not only deliver the winning point - he also wrote new history for the Indonesian contingent at the 2026 Asian Games.

This achievement adds Indonesia to the list of gold medal winning nations at this edition of Asia's premier sporting event. Indonesia now sits level with Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar and Vietnam, all holding one gold medal each.

For the Indonesian men's badminton squad, this triumph repeats a historic milestone. Indonesia previously won the men's team badminton gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games.

That 1998 squad featured iconic badminton legends including Rexy Mainaky and Taufik Hidayat. Now, a new generation has once again lifted Indonesia's men's badminton team to the top of the Asian Games podium.

Fighting back from a 0-2 deficit proves Indonesia did not just claim their first gold medal here. This result also demonstrated the resilience to overturn impossible odds on Asia's biggest sporting stage.