This is an archive article published on September 29, 2023
Asian Games, badminton: India need to be wary of unheralded Koreans in men’s team semifinals
After a straightforward assignment in the quarters, the likes of Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy can't afford to underestimate the relatively unknown opposition in the last-4 round.
India might've ensured a medal in the Asian Games men's team event, whipping minnows Nepal. But they run into tricky Korea, who might be light on reputations but are pros of the team event dynamic and planning. (File)
Asian Games, badminton: India need to be wary of unheralded Koreans in men’s team semifinals
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The deception is in their unstated and understated reputations. Korea are team event giants, who never strut around talking of their potential in the lead-up, nor boasting about their many successes in the aftermath. They tiptoe into host cities of Games and walk away with titles without ever drawing attention to their hidden skills and ice-cool temperaments.
India might’ve ensured a medal in the Asian Games men’s team event, whipping minnows Nepal. But they run into tricky Korea, who might be light on reputation but are pros of the team event dynamic and planning. As Thomas Cup winners, expectations are immense from Indians, and anything less than a final will be a tad disappointing. But the last thing India would do is take Korea lightly, though their team sheet doesn’t evince fear.
It will be Korea vs India in the semifinals after Indonesia were ousted 3-1 by little known names amongst their singles personnel. Not particularly highly-ranked, Korea’s singles players tend to come prepared for team events at Games and rely on unfamiliarity to stun rivals.
India’s Thomas Cup royalty – HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth will need to be wary of the lesser-known names, Jeon Hyeok Jin and Lee Yungyu who beat Jonatan Christie, the individual singles title holder of the Asian Games. India should start strong favourites in singles though, given Prannoy and Sen’s ability to think on their feet, analyse opponents in the opening game and improvise. But Yungyu, tipped to meet Sen, can throw in a spanner or two, though he’s ranked No. 119. Koreans are known to unleash little- known and undissected talents into the deep end and watch them make a splash at team events. Their success at Thomas Cups and team championships point to precise planning, and smart strategies, though Prannoy, Sen and Srikanth are hugely experienced.
Korea unleashed Heo Kwaghee at the Tokyo Olympics and he took out Kento Momota famously. In Yungyu, there is a relatively unknown weapon at Hangzhou.
Their doubles teams are beasts in team events, not to mention them being brand new world champions. Downing Indonesia takes some doing, and Korea leveraged their doubles might while picking on Christie alongside.
China, Japan sizzle in other half
One Indian eye was firmly on the other side of the team event draw, and after Shi Yuqi’s imploding, China steadied themselves with Li Shifeng and their two doubles teams – Liu-Ou and Liang-Wang – dragging the hosts into the semis defeating Chinese Taipei. A reverse result would’ve been quite a scandal in China who, after losing the Olympics men’s doubles final to Taiwan, cut off the broadcast for the medal ceremony to avoid listening to the anthem of Plum Blossoms.
But they are on track to meet arch rivals Japan in the semifinals.
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Kenta Nishimoto is having quite the Games and calmed Japanese nerves by stubbing out Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong after young Kodai Naraoka lost his opener to Lee Cheuk Yiu. Nishimoto had beaten former World champion Loh Kean Yew to drub Singapore 3-0 on Thursday. Japan’s two doubles teams prevailed in straight games, and might be received with cackles and hoots when China and Japan face off in the semis in what is a fiery rivalry on the badminton courts.
The men’s team event at the Asiad in badminton has always been fiercely contested by the top five countries – China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia. This edition welcomes India to baddy’s big bubbling cauldron.
Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball.
Professional Profile
Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express.
Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics.
Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium.
Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025)
Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond:
Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style.
PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps.
The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals.
Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas.
Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes.
Notable Recent Articles
BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025)
The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025)
Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025)
Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025)
Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025)
Other Sports Interests
Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts.
You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More
