China’s badminton pair Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang secured a silver medal in the men’s doubles at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, marking a significant achievement as the country’s first appearance in the final of this event in 36 years. Despite a strong start, winning the first game 21-19, Liang and Wang were unable to maintain their lead, eventually losing to Indonesia’s Daniel Marthin and Leo Rolly Carnando in a tightly contested match.
Marthin and Carnando turned the tide by taking the second game 21-13, and clinched the gold with a 21-18 victory in the deciding game. The Chinese duo, who entered the competition as world champions, had previously defeated Indonesian opponents in both the Asian Games men’s team final and the men’s doubles semifinal.
This silver medal finish reflects a notable moment in Chinese badminton history, as the last time a Chinese pair reached the Asian Games men’s doubles final was in 1990, when Li Yongbo and Tian Bingyi claimed gold at the Beijing Games. Despite the recent loss, Wang Chang expressed determination to pursue a gold medal in future competitions.
Overall, China wrapped up the badminton events at the Asian Games with a total of two gold medals, achieved in the women’s team event and mixed doubles, as well as silver medals in the men’s team, men’s doubles, and women’s doubles categories.