Japan Wins First Asian Games Sepak Takraw Gold

Host nation Japan captured its first-ever Asian Games sepak takraw gold on October 3, 2026, defeating Indonesia 2-1 in the men's quadrant final at Paroma Mizuho Arena in Nagoya. The breakthrough came in a sport long dominated by Southeast Asian nations, as Japan overturned a history of near-misses on home soil.

A seesaw final decided in three sets

Japan conceded three straight points to open the first set but fought back into a heated exchange. Trailing by three late in the set, attacker Yota Ichikawa landed a sharp kick to level at 11-11, and Japan blocked Indonesia's powerful attacks to steal the set 17-15. Indonesia responded by taking the second set 15-9, forcing a decider.

Japan opened the third set with a 5-2 lead, then conceded four consecutive points as Indonesia turned the match around. The hosts reversed momentum again, helped by Ichikawa's attacking play, reached ten points first and held on to close out the contest and the title.

From silver to gold, eight years apart

The men's quadrant event debuted at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, where Japan lost the final 1-2 to Indonesia and settled for silver. At the following edition, Japan fell to Myanmar in the semifinal and took bronze. The Aichi-Nagoya gold completed a three-consecutive-Games podium run and elevated Japan from challenger to champion.

The medal was Japan's 73rd gold of the Games, part of a record-breaking haul of 83 golds that surpassed the previous national high of 78 set at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games.

"This gold medal is a result that everyone involved in Japanese sepak takraw has been hoping for," coach Takeshi Terashima said. "I am truly delighted that we were able to achieve it at the Asian Games held right here in Japan."