Asian Games 2026: Malaysia's 12-Year Team Medal Wait Continues

A sensational singles win from Leong Jun Hao over world No. 1 Jonatan Christie wasn't enough to prevent Malaysia's men's badminton team from crashing out of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, going down 2-3 to Indonesia in a dramatic quarter-final at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.

The defeat means Malaysia will fail to progress to the semi-finals, missing out on the chance to secure at least a bronze medal and extending the team's wait for a men's team medal at the Asian Games to 12 years.

Jun Hao produced the shock of the tie, recovering from a first-set defeat to hand Malaysia the opening point with a superb 20-22, 21-12, 21-17 win over Jonatan Christie.

The world No. 33 admitted a sluggish start left him searching for rhythm before he was able to wrestle back control of the match. "At the start of the game, I felt like my rhythm wasn't quite there, and when I fell behind, I tried to chase the score down until I managed to win the first set," he said after the match. "Even though I lost the first set, I think that actually helped me deal with the pressure and understand what I needed to do in the second. Once I found my own rhythm, my game became much smoother."

Indonesia responded to level the tie at 1-1, with Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani falling to Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 15-21, 21-19, 10-21.

Malaysia's second singles player, Justin Hoh, was then unable to add to the tally, going down 19-21, 19-21 to Alwi Farhan, putting Indonesia ahead 2-1.

Hopes were briefly rekindled when Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun produced a fighting performance to defeat Leo Rolly Carnado-Daniel Marthin 17-21, 21-16, 21-13, dragging the tie to a decisive final match.

The pressure then fell on Malaysia's third singles player, Eogene Ewe, to play the role of hero — but he was unable to deliver the point needed, falling 11-21, 11-21 to Moh Zaki Ubaidillah, bringing Malaysia's campaign to an end.

The defeat means Malaysia's drought in the men's team event continues, with the country's last podium finish coming via bronze at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. For the record, Malaysia has never won gold in the event, with the nation's best results being two silver medals, achieved at the 1966 Bangkok and 1990 Beijing editions.

Credit Photo : BERNAMA