Indonesia’s Badminton Men End a 28-Year Asian Games Gold Wait

Indonesia’s men’s badminton team delivered the country’s first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games, coming from behind to defeat China in the final. President Prabowo Subianto called the team afterwards to congratulate the players and encourage the Indonesian contingent still competing in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

A comeback in the final

The result was secured in a close contest that began badly for Indonesia. China took the first two matches, putting Indonesia behind 0-2. The Indonesian team then levelled the tie at 2-2, setting up a decisive fifth match.

Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah delivered the winning point against Weng Hongyang, taking the match 23-21, 21-13. That sealed a 3-2 team victory over China and the first gold medal for Indonesia at these Games.

The sequence gave the final its defining character: an early deficit, a recovery across the next matches and a composed finish when the outcome rested on the last contest. The match scores and result were reported by Antara.

Indonesia’s men’s team came back from 0-2 to beat China 3-2, with Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah securing the decisive point in the fifth match.

A milestone after Bangkok

The win also ended a long wait for Indonesia in the Asian Games men’s team event. The country’s previous gold in the discipline came at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, making this victory the first in 28 years.

That gap gives the result significance beyond the medal table. The team has restored Indonesia’s place at the top of this event after nearly three decades, and did so in a final against China that required a collective response after the opening matches went against it.

Antara described the badminton gold as Indonesia’s first at the 2026 Games. The source reports the team event result, rather than a broader account of the competition or a forecast of what Indonesia may achieve in the remaining events. The immediate achievement is clear: the men’s team has delivered the contingent’s opening gold.

The presidential call

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said in a written statement that Prabowo called the athletes on Thursday night, September 24, after arriving home from his activities. The call followed news of the team’s victory and was intended to convey the President’s congratulations and encouragement.

“Keep fighting!” Prabowo told the team, according to the statement. Wijaya said the President’s attention was a form of support for the Indonesian contingent, which was still competing at the Asian Games. He also urged the public to support and pray for the athletes.

The call linked the team’s result to the wider national effort underway at the Games. It was a moment of recognition after a historic win, as well as an expression of support for athletes whose events had not yet concluded. No further results or medal expectations are established by the source.

What this means for investors

For investors following Indonesia, the story is a reminder that national attention often gathers around moments of sporting achievement. A first gold at a major regional competition can become a source of public pride and a point of connection for audiences at home and abroad. This is a cultural observation, not a measure of economic performance or an investment signal.

The result also illustrates the value of resilience as a public narrative: Indonesia recovered from a two-match deficit, drew level and secured the final point under pressure. That sequence gives the victory a compelling shape, but it does not by itself support conclusions about tourism, consumer demand, policy or asset values.

For now, the significance is sporting and national. Indonesia has its first gold of the 2026 Asian Games, and its men’s badminton team has ended a 28-year wait in the team event. The contingent’s remaining competitions will determine what follows, while this victory already stands as a landmark for the players and their supporters.

Indonesia’s campaign in Aichi-Nagoya continues, with the men’s team’s comeback setting a memorable early marker for the country’s Asian Games effort.

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