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Guru Sai Dutt Urges India to Celebrate Asian Games Bronze
India’s men’s badminton team won a bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
They lost their semifinal match to China by three matches to one.
Coach Guru Sai Dutt said the team should be proud of the bronze instead of feeling sad about the loss.
He believes the medal will give the players confidence for their individual competitions.
India has now won men’s team medals at two Asian Games in a row.
Hariharan Amsakarunan won a medal at his first Asian Games.
Tharun Mannepalli said the team worked and fought together.
Both players thanked their teammates, coaches, families and supporters.
India won the men’s team bronze at the 2026 Asian Games after losing 1-3 to China in the semifinals.
Coach Guru Sai Dutt said the medal should be celebrated rather than overshadowed by the semifinal defeat.
He said the bronze could boost players’ confidence before the individual badminton events.
The result gave India consecutive Asian Games men’s team medals after its silver at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
Hariharan Amsakarunan and Tharun Mannepalli dedicated the medal to their teammates, coaches, families and supporters.
- Who
- India’s men’s badminton team, coach Guru Sai Dutt, Hariharan Amsakarunan and Tharun Mannepalli.
- What
- India won the men’s team bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games after a 1-3 semifinal loss to China.
- Where
- At the Asian Games in Ichinomiya.
- When
- During the 2026 Asian Games; the medal followed India’s silver at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
- Why
- The bronze gives India’s players confidence and momentum for the individual badminton events.
Celebrate the Bronze
Focus on the Semifinal Loss
How to view the result
Celebrate the Bronze
Guru Sai Dutt said India should celebrate winning a medal rather than regret losing to China in the semifinal.
Focus on the Semifinal Loss
The semifinal defeat remained the main setback, with India losing 1-3 to China and coming close to beating them.
Meaning for upcoming events
Celebrate the Bronze
The coach said the bronze would provide confidence and momentum for the individual competitions.
Focus on the Semifinal Loss
The team’s focus now shifts away from the medal celebration toward performing in the individual events.
Key facts
- Medal
- Bronze in the men’s badminton team event
- Semifinal result
- India lost 1-3 to China
- Previous Asian Games medal
- India won silver at the 2023 Hangzhou Games
- Coach
- Guru Sai Dutt
- Next focus
- Individual men’s singles, women’s singles and doubles events
- Asian Games debut
- Hariharan Amsakarunan competed at his first Asian Games
- Defending champions
- Satwik and Chirag were identified as the defending doubles champions
Quotes
Tharun Mannepalli
Indian men’s team badminton player
“We stand together as a team, and we fought together, and we have achieved a medal in the team event. So, I thank every teammate and the coaches and the support staff who supported me.”
thehansindia.com
“We have to be celebrating the bronze and not the loss of the semifinal; that’s what Gopi sir is also saying. We have won a bronze; that should give us confidence.”
thehansindia.com
Hariharan Amsakarunan
Indian doubles badminton player and Asian Games debutant
“I'm very happy to be a part of the Asian Games team. This is my first Asian Games as well. I feel like this team was a really good team.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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