Asian Games 2026 badminton bronze: India coach Gurusaidutt backs team to shine in individuals
Synopsis
India's men's badminton team claimed bronze at the Asian Games 2026 in Ichinomiya after a 1-3 semifinal defeat to China — and coach Gurusaidutt wants the squad to treat it as a launchpad, not a consolation. With back-to-back Asiad team medals, a Thomas Cup title, and defending doubles champions Satwik-Chirag in the individual draw, India's full medal haul may still be ahead.
Key Takeaways
India's men's badminton team won bronze at the Asian Games 2026 in Ichinomiya on 24 September 2026 .
The team lost 1-3 to China in the semifinals but secured back-to-back Asiad medals, following a silver at the 2023 Hangzhou Games .
Coach Gurusaidutt called the bronze 'very important' as a confidence boost ahead of the individual events.
Doubles pair Satwik and Chirag are defending champions and among India's top individual medal hopes.
Debutant Hariharan Amsakarunan dedicated the medal to his family, past coaches, and chief coach Pullela Gopichand .
India also won the Thomas Cup during this four-year cycle, underlining consistent team-level growth.
India badminton coach Gurusaidutt on 24 September 2026 called on players and fans to celebrate the men's team bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Ichinomiya, urging them not to dwell on the 1-3 semifinal defeat against China. The coach stressed that the bronze would provide crucial momentum heading into the individual events at the Asiad.
Bronze as a confidence builder
'This medal is very important for us as a team. Going forward for individuals, this medal will give a lot of confidence for the players to take the momentum towards the individual events,' Gurusaidutt said. He drew attention to the scale of the achievement, noting that 'badminton at the Asian Games is as good as the Olympics' and that 'getting a medal is always tough here.'
India's bronze follows a silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, marking back-to-back men's team medals at the Asiad. The team also won the Thomas Cup during this four-year cycle, underlining their sustained growth as a collective unit.
Coach assesses the squad
Gurusaidutt praised the squad's blend of experience and emerging talent. 'We have a balanced team; Lakshya is a senior player now, Ayush is a young guy with form. Then we have Satwik and Chirag, two very experienced ones, and then we have Hariharan and Arjun. On the bench we have Prannoy, Srikanth and Tarun,' he noted. He expressed confidence in India's prospects across men's and women's singles, as well as in doubles — where Satwik and Chirag are defending champions.
On the semifinal against China, the coach acknowledged the margins were narrow. 'We were close to beating China; maybe different conditions would probably have helped us. But fantastic effort from the team,' he said.
Debut delight for Hariharan
Doubles player Hariharan Amsakarunan, competing in his first Asian Games, expressed pride at being part of the medal-winning side. 'I'm very happy to be a part of the Asian Games team. This is my first Asian Games as well... We won the bronze,' he said. Hariharan dedicated the medal to his supporters, his family, and coaches — including chief national coach Pullela Gopichand, whom he specifically thanked for his backing.
Tarun Mannepalli on the team spirit
Men's team player Tarun Mannepalli echoed the spirit of collective achievement. 'We stand together as a team, and we fought together, and we have achieved a medal in the team event,' he said, extending his thanks to teammates, coaches, and the support staff who backed the squad throughout the tournament. Notably, Gopichand himself has also reportedly urged the team to focus on celebrating the bronze rather than lamenting the semifinal exit.
What's next for India
With the team event concluded, attention now shifts to the individual draws at the Asian Games 2026. India will look to Satwik-Chirag to defend their doubles crown and will count on their singles contingent to convert the team's positive energy into further podium finishes.
Point of View
Not failure. India's men's badminton team has now won medals at two successive Asiads and claimed the Thomas Cup in the same cycle, a combination that would have seemed optimistic a decade ago. The more telling story, however, is whether Satwik-Chirag can defend their doubles title and whether the singles depth — Lakshya, Ayush, Prannoy — can translate collective confidence into individual hardware. The individual draws will be the real referendum on how far Indian badminton has truly come.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win a medal in men's team badminton at Asian Games 2026?
Yes, India won the bronze medal in men's team badminton at the Asian Games 2026 in Ichinomiya. The team lost 1-3 to China in the semifinals before securing the bronze.
What did India coach Gurusaidutt say about the bronze medal?
Coach Gurusaidutt said the bronze is 'very important' for building confidence ahead of the individual events. He urged players and fans to celebrate the medal rather than dwell on the semifinal defeat to China.
How does this medal compare to India's previous Asian Games performance?
India won a silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, making this bronze their second consecutive men's team medal at the Asiad. The team also won the Thomas Cup in the same four-year cycle.
Who are India's key players to watch in the individual events?
Coach Gurusaidutt highlighted Satwik and Chirag — the defending doubles champions — as strong medal prospects, along with Lakshya and Ayush in singles. He also expressed confidence in both men's and women's singles contenders.
Who is Hariharan Amsakarunan and what did he say after the bronze?
Hariharan Amsakarunan is an Indian doubles player who made his Asian Games debut at the 2026 edition in Ichinomiya. He expressed happiness at being part of the medal-winning squad and dedicated the bronze to his family, supporters, and coaches including Pullela Gopichand.
