By Sundeep Misra
OCA Media
Nagoya, Japan, September 23, 2026: The men’s combined Daoshu and Gunshu showdown at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games delivered a brilliant showcase of agility and precision to a highly appreciative crowd.
China’s Gao Xiaobin stamped his authority on the competition, capturing the gold medal with a dominant 19.582 points. Building on his momentum as the 2025 world champion, Gao executed his routines with flawless power, cementing his status as the undisputed benchmark of modern Taolu.
Reflecting on his golden victory, Gao noted: “Every routine requires clarity. Winning the world title last year gave me confidence, but performing under these pressures here in Nagoya demands everything you have.”
Beneath the champion, however, the narrative unfolded with high drama and a nail-biting battle for the remaining steps of the podium.
Korean veteran Lee Hasung turned back the clock in style. At 32, the seasoned competitor claimed a hard-earned silver medal with 19.406 points, a remarkable podium finish coming 12 years after he famously struck gold at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
Addressing those who doubted his longevity, Lee shared: “To stand here 12 years after Incheon feels like a dream. People asked why I kept going at 32, but my love for this sport and the hunger to compete kept me pushing through every injury and doubt.”
By the slimmest of margins, a razor-thin 0.003 points, Lee fended off Malaysia’s Clement Su Wei Ting. Su engineered a brilliant campaign, dramatically improving on his 5th-place finish at the 2022 Hangzhou Games to secure the bronze with 19.403 points.
"Moving from fifth to a bronze medal here is validation for all the hours in the training hall,” Su reflected, thrilled with his upward trajectory. “In the Gunshu, I only wanted to keep the errors away.”