Asian Games, Day 5: Japan face Indonesia for women’s gold medal at home. Qatar-Malaysia in men’s final

NAGOYA, Japan – There is growing anticipation to see which two pairs, one in the men’s event and one in the women’s event, who will win the two gold medals at stake at the XX Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. In the women’s final, home players Tsukamoto/Tokumoto (Japan) face Kusumawati/Sabatini (Indonesia). In the men’s final, meanwhile, Chin/Aidan Yunus (Malaysia) will take on Naif/Naif (Qatar). Padel fans in the stands at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center have supported the action and atmosphere since the first day of competition. On Day 6, Saturday 3 October, the matches for the two bronze medals will also be played: Abad/Malazarte (Philippines)-Putria/Gumulya (Indonesia) in the women’s event, and the all-Iranian clash between Golestan/Roghani and Shahi/Jamshidi in the men’s event.

 

WOMEN’S The highlight of Day 5 in the semi-finals was the impressive victory by home players Tsukamoto/Tokumoto (Japan) over Putria/Gumulya (Indonesia) in two sets, 6-1 6-3. The Japanese pair’s goal is to win padel’s first women’s gold medal at the Asian Games in front of their home crowd. “I hope that everyone who watched us today understood that you cannot win with powerful shots alone,” said Tokumoto. “The gold medal we are aiming for is within reach. We just need to play our game and I believe the result will come. We want to enjoy tomorrow’s final.” In the match for the gold medal, the Japanese pair will face Indonesia’s Kusumawati/Sabatini, who defeated Abad/Malazarte (Philippines) in the semi-finals with two 6-0 sets.

 

MEN’S In the first men’s semi-final of the day, Chin/Aidan Yunus (Malaysia) defeated Iran’s Shahi/Jamshidi after a match that was decided only in the third set, 1-6 6-4 6-1. “All of this is incredible,” said Chin. “Now that we are in the final, we will enjoy the moment. We have done a lot to get here, but we will give our all to achieve an important result in the final. I am excited.” In the other Day 5 semi-final, the Qatari pair made up of brothers Naif defeated the other Iranian pair, Golestan/Roghani, 6-4 6-2. “We are one step away from the gold medal,” said Rashed Naif. “I completely trust my brother: he is definitely the best player in Asia. Tomorrow, he and I will give everything we have.”

 

DAY 6 SCHEDULE On the final day of the Asian Games, a total of four matches will be played: the two gold-medal finals and the two third-place matches. The day will begin at 11 am local time with the women’s bronze-medal match between Abad/Malazarte (Philippines) and Putria/Gumulya (Indonesia). The programme will conclude with the men’s gold-medal final between Chin/Aidan Yunus (Malaysia) and Naif/Naif (Qatar).