The fourth day of the XX Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 concluded with a historic milestone for padel, as Iran and Indonesia officially locked in medal finishes by advancing two pairs each to the semi-finals. With the quarter-finals now complete, the tournament shifts its focus to the highly anticipated semi-final matchups scheduled for Friday, October 2.
Semi-Final Matchups and Tournament Outlook
The upcoming semi-final round at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center will determine which nations advance to the gold medal matches. The following pairings have secured their spots in the next stage of the competition:
- Men’s Semi-Finals (Iran vs. Qatar and Malaysia): The Iranian duo Golestan/Roghani is set to face Qatar’s Naif/Naif, while their compatriots Shahi/Jasmshidi will compete against Malaysia’s Chin/Aidan Yunus.
- Women’s Semi-Finals (Indonesia vs. Japan and Philippines): The Indonesian pair Putria/Gumulya will challenge Japan’s Tsukamoto/Tokumoto, and the second Indonesian team, Kusuma/Sabatini, will face the Philippines' Abad/Malazarte.
The quarter-final results highlighted the dominance of the advancing nations. In the women’s bracket, Kusuma/Sabatini (Indonesia) delivered a dominant 6-0, 6-1 performance against Japan’s Ozawa/Sato, while their teammates Putria/Gumulya defeated Hong Kong’s Chan/Law 6-1, 6-2. The Philippines' Abad/Malazarte earned their spot after a hard-fought three-set victory over Iran’s Najafidehaghi/Mohammadtaghipour (6-2, 3-6, 6-2), and Japan’s Tsukamoto/Tokumoto secured a straightforward win over Saudi Arabia’s Fareh/Yamani.
In the men’s draw, Iran effectively cleared the field of Japanese contenders. Golestan/Roghani defeated Ando/Nakamura 6-4, 7-5, and Shahi/Jasmshidi bested Tomita/Hatakeyama 6-1, 7-6. Qatar’s Naif/Naif moved forward after a 6-2, 6-3 win against the UAE’s Aljanahi/Alabdulla, and Malaysia’s Chin/Aidan Yunus survived a tight three-set battle against the Philippines' Lapidus/Canizares, ending 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Reflecting on the pressure of the event, Iranian player Roghani noted that while the team struggled to play their absolute best due to the high stakes, they successfully managed the intensity to guarantee a medal for their country. Similarly, Indonesia’s Gumulya expressed pride in padel’s debut at the Asian Games and emphasized the team's commitment to pushing for even higher honors in the upcoming matches.
The semi-final action is scheduled to commence at 1:00 PM local time on Friday, October 2, on Court 1 at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center.
