Japan and China met at the Asian Games on 2 October 2026, and the hosts took a 3:2 win. «To be fair», this was the clash everyone had been waiting for, with both sides sitting at the top of the table before kickoff.
«And here's the thing», the result shifted the balance. Japan moved up to 12 points after three games, while China remained on 7.
The hosts arrived in perfect condition, having won their previous four matches 3:0 against countries like Qatar and Pakistan. China showed more vulnerability, particularly in their defeat against South Korea just a few days prior.
«By then», the gap between the two leaders had grown, and Japan are closing in on a deal for the gold medal while China will make life awkward for themselves if they cannot find consistency.
