The quarterfinal showdown against Japan proved both intense and historic. Ace shuttler Lakshya Sen sparked the momentum with an extraordinary comeback, recovering from a game down and a late deficit in the decider to defeat world No. 7 Kodai Naraoka 11-21, 21-5, 21-19. Following this electric start, the powerhouse doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty outfought former world champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi 21-18, 24-22 to double India's lead. Young sensation Ayush Shetty then sealed the tie completely by sweeping past Koki Watanabe 21-10, 21-19, officially confirming a podium finish and booking a spot in the semifinals.What Led to the Women's Team Exit?In contrast to the men's success, the Indian women's badminton contingent experienced a tough heartbreak in their quarterfinal fixture against Japan, losing 3-1. Despite a valiant effort and a brilliant doubles win by Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand over world No. 3 pair Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto, losses in the singles matches—including hard-fought battles by PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda—halted their campaign. Consequently, the women's wait for a team medal continues, keeping their previous podium finish in 2014 as their most recent benchmark.What Lies Ahead in the Tournament?With a medal safely guaranteed, the Indian men's team advances deeper into the tournament schedule to fight for a spot in the gold medal match. Their next challenge involves facing the winner of the high-stakes quarterfinal between defending champions China and South Korea. The squad's current form hints at strong contention as they aim to upgrade their color of metal from the previous editions.also read : Mirabai Chanu Wins Asian Games Silver in 49kg Weightlifting
