Temi Kings
The 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya produced an unforgettable team final in badminton, as Indonesia claimed gold in the men’s team event with a thrilling 3–2 victory over China at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
After falling behind 0–2 early in the tie, Indonesia mounted a stirring rally. The gold medal came down to a tense, deciding fifth rubber between young men's singles star Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah and China's Weng Hongyang. Ubaidillah showed remarkable composure under extreme pressure, holding his nerve in a tight first-game deuce before closing out a 23–21, 21–13 win to seal the championship for Indonesia.
"I kept reassuring myself to stay calm on the court, and the coach also gave me confidence. We were down 0-2 at first, but I tried not to let negative thoughts get to me."
— Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah
The victory prevented a Chinese team sweep after China’s women’s team claimed gold earlier in the week against Japan, establishing Indonesia’s men as the premier team force at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.