Indonesia’s Third Gold Strengthens Badminton’s Dominance at Asian Games

The Indonesian duo secured the title after defeating China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang 19-21, 21-13, 21-18 in the final at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Ichinomiya, Aichi, Japan, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The victory completed a successful campaign for Leo and Daniel, who also contributed to Indonesia’s gold-medal triumph in the men's team event earlier in the tournament, Antara reported.

The final began with a closely contested opening game. Leo and Daniel matched the Chinese pair point for point and even held narrow leads on several occasions. However, Liang and Wang responded well under pressure and managed to edge the first game 21-19.

Indonesia regained control in the second game. Reunited specifically for the Asian Games campaign, Leo and Daniel played more aggressively and consistently, gradually widening the gap before closing the game comfortably at 21-13 to force a decider.

The momentum remained with the Indonesian pair in the third game. Leo and Daniel entered the mid-game interval with an 11-9 advantage and maintained their composure as the match entered its decisive stages.

Despite continued pressure from the Chinese pair, the Indonesians held their lead and eventually sealed the match 21-18 after 62 minutes of competition, securing the gold medal.

The title not only added another gold medal to Indonesia’s Asian Games tally but also highlighted the depth of the country's badminton squad. Alongside the men's team gold medal, the victory made badminton Indonesia’s leading contributor at the Games, with multiple medals across team and individual events. ***