Asian Games 2018 Badminton Highlights

Unlike the regular BWF events or Olympics, the Asian Games is always in to-do list for any badminton powerhouse. Creating history has become habit for shuttlers at every event, every year.

At the recently-concluded Asian Games 2018, Jakarta had witnessed all genres of the stories played by the shuttlers. As the event progressed to the Finals, every round left with remarkable matches filled with tough rallies and remarkable comebacks.

Players before minding their game in the Individual Event, showed the great team effort in the Team Event.

Have a glance at the highlights,

Early Exit

The 2018 World Championships silver medallist and the Chinese star player Shi Yuqi had to make an early exit in second round after losing to Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in three sets with 19-21, 21-19, 17-21 in the match that lasted for 71 minutes of the Individual event.

Posing a great threat to Shi in the first game itself, the 20-year-old Indonesian jolted the Chinese with his instant returns and angles smashes.

While, the sixth seed Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy from India lost to Wong Wing Ki Vincent and Kantaphon Wangcharoen in the second round with 23-21, 21-19 and 21-12, 15-21, 21-15 respectively to end India’s hope from Men.

Lee Chong’s Absence a Loss?

Seems like Malaysia is solely dependent on the Legend Lee Chong Wei, as none Singles shuttler could progress to at least Quarter-Finals at the Asian Games 2018, on his absence.

World No. 53 Malaysian Men’s Singles player Lee Zii Jia ended his campaign in the third round at the Individual event after losing to the third seed Son Wan Ho with 21-11, 21-17. Previously, Daren Liew lost against the Korean Heo Kwang Hee in the close encounter with 8-21, 22-20, 14-21.

While in the Doubles event, Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong and Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi were able to reach finals in the Men’s Doubles discipline and in the Mixed event, Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying along with Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai lost in the second rounds.

Indonesia, a great team

The loudest cheers at the Asian Games venues happened to be from the badminton arenas over the couple of weeks of the season in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

The host country grabbed three straight golds, one silver and one bronze in the sport from the huge crowd support.

Indonesia has performed exceptionally well in the sport in team and individual events, breaking the China’s hold on the sport.

History Creators

The glittering stars Tai Tzu Ying, Saina Nehwal, and PV Sindhu created history by winning the first ever medals in the individual events.

Saina, who has a habit of creating history, has officially won the first Asiad medal after losing in the Semi-Finals match against Tai Tzu Ying, while the latter won gold for the first time and registered as the first player from the country to have stamped the feat.

Meanwhile Sindhu, yet, won another straight silver in the individual event in 2018, previous one being at the World Championships 2018.