2026 AUC Badminton Day 4: Intense Quarterfinal Clashes Shape the Road to the Semifinals

On the fourth day of the 2026 AUC Badminton, the competition moved into the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals. Athletes from 11 countries and regions continued to give their all, setting their sights on the finals and the podium.

In the Round of 16 of women's doubles, the Republic of Korea's Jiyun Ha and Chaeeun Lee defeated their Hong Kong opponents 2-0 (15-4, 15-12). Reflecting on the match, the duo shared, "Traveling all the way to Taipei to compete against players from different countries is an incredibly precious and rewarding experience for us." They also mentioned, "Despite winning the game, we need to refine a few important details before heading into the quarterfinals." Unfortunately, the Republic of Korea's duo fell to their Chinese Taipei opponents in the quarterfinals, ending their run before the semifinals. However, the game was still an unforgettable experience for the athletes.

Meanwhile, representing the host, the Chinese Taipei men's doubles pair of Tsung-I Huang and Chao-Pang Liao competed in the Round of 16 this morning. Despite trailing early in the first game, the duo relied on communication and teamwork to secure a straight-games victory. "Though we let our opponents dictate the tempo at the start, our proactive communication and adjustments were what ultimately allowed us to seize the victory," Liao said. Huang added, "This is our first time partnering together. While we got a good result, we still need to work hard on some details of our game." Although the Chinese Taipei duo fell short of their goal to secure the gold medal at home, they still put up an impressive fight, giving their opponents from the Republic of Korea a tough contest in a hard-fought three-game battle, 1-2 (11-15, 15-8, 13-15).

Fighting Together: The Lucky Charms That Keep AUC Badminton Athletes Motivated

As the 2026 AUC Badminton entered its fourth day, the competition on the court grew increasingly fierce. However, many athletes were carrying their own personal lucky charms throughout the matches, adding a touch of warmth and cuteness to the highly intense event.

Competing in her very first Asian-level championship, Japanese women's singles player Asuka Imaizumi defeated the Republic of Korea's Jeongeun Tak in the Round of 16 this morning. The numerous charms hanging from her gear bag caught the spectators' eyes. "Many of these are keychains given to me by my friends and family who are important to me," Imaizumi shared. "I carry them with the mindset of 'bringing them along so we can fight together.' That's why I always have them with me when I compete."  These lucky keychains provided the support she needed to advance to the quarterfinals. Looking ahead, she hopes to ride this wave of positive energy even further: "I'm absolutely thrilled! I will keep giving my all in the upcoming matches, and my goal is to push through to the semifinals!"

On the men's singles side, Kuan-Ting Lin, representing Chinese Taipei, also demonstrated an impressive performance to secure his ticket to the next Round with a straight-games victory, 2-0 (15-8, 15-4). He also carried a lucky charm with him to the court. The small badminton-shaped mascot is a gift from Lin's sponsor. He shared: "There isn't a really special story behind this, and honestly, the cuteness is a little opposite to my personality. However, it means an important blessing, making me remember that there are always lots of people supporting me." 

As a student-athlete who also runs a badminton coaching brand and platform, Lin cherishes the chance to compete on the court. Carrying the love and support onto the court, Lin is looking forward to doing his best in the semifinals tomorrow. "I hope I have enough energy to compete in the semifinals tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to gaining some more valuable experiences," said Lin.