The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony featuring a dazzling light and musical show, celebrating Japan's culture and hospitality. The event saw over 350 records broken, including 50 world records, and marked the official handover to Doha for the 2030 Games. India finished fourth in the medal tally with 85 medals.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have officially concluded, with India finishing a commendable fourth in the medal standings.
An art display at the Asian Games Main Media Centre in Nagoya features drawings by artists from across the subcontinent, offering a unique perspective on the Games. The collection includes tributes to athletes like Neeraj Chopra and calls for cricket's global expansion, all while incorporating the mascot Honohon. It highlights the emotion and colour of sport beyond competition.
India finished fourth with 85 medals at Aichi-Nagoya, down from 106 in Hangzhou, highlighting the challenge of sustaining progress on the road to 2036.
Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al Musallam defended Japan's decision not to have a dedicated Athletes' Village for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, citing cost and sustainability. This comes amidst criticism over accommodation chaos. Musallam confirmed that future Asian Games in Doha (2030) and Riyadh (2034) will feature dedicated villages, emphasising flexibility and legacy considerations. He also supported the increasing number of athletes, highlighting the importance of sport in current global crises.
Heavy rain in Nagoya led to the brief evacuation of around 400 athletes and officials and caused flooding and venue leaks, but the city's mayor, Ichiro Hirosawa, has confirmed that the Asian Games will proceed as planned without disruption.
The Olympic Council of Asia defended the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games despite accommodation and transport complaints, saying mega multi-sport events always face challenges.
Five years after the Tokyo Olympics were held without spectators, Japan's Asian Games in Nagoya are struggling to generate local enthusiasm, with many residents unaware of the event despite the return of fans.
India's men's cricket team arrived in Nagoya on Saturday with their Asian Games title defence set to begin, as the defending champions prepare to face Afghanistan in their quarter-final on September 28.
Indian cricket fans travelled thousands of kilometres, paying exorbitant prices for tickets and travel, to witness the India-Pakistan men's cricket final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a stadium back home.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani are scheduled to visit the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games athletes' village on September 20. This visit follows the opening ceremony and will include a tour of the Garden Pier section and interaction with athletes. The Games feature a unique accommodation setup, utilising a cruise liner, temporary villas, and hotels instead of a traditional village. Various logistical and ceremonial details, including team welcome ceremonies and other official meetings, were also discussed.
Organisers of the Asian Games in Nagoya are actively addressing complaints regarding athlete accommodation, including issues with bed sizes in container huts and cabin sizes on the newly docked cruise ship, Costa Serena, which will house 4,000 participants.
Organisers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have defended their decision to forgo an Athletes' Village, opting instead for a mix of hotels, container huts, and a cruise ship, despite complaints about cramped conditions and shared rooms.
After the second day of competitions at the Aich-Nagoya Asian Games, China has taken a commanding lead in the medal tally with 38 medals, including 23 golds. Japan and Republic of Korea follow in second and third place respectively. India is currently ranked 12th with a total of 6 medals, comprising 4 silver and 2 bronze.
Thirteen-year-old Yu Zidi's three golds and MVP award provided a golden highlight as the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games closed after a fortnight of logistical problems.
The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya, Japan, with a vibrant opening ceremony. Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open, which saw contingents from 45 nations and the OCA Refugee Team participate in the athletes' parade.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are grappling with significant accommodation issues, including male and female athletes being allocated shared rooms and long waiting times for credential activation, forcing even the host Japan team to seek alternative arrangements.
Ambitious India out to match Hangzhou benchmark in Nagoya.
Indian riders Jai Sud and Hriday Vipul Chheda have successfully qualified for the individual dressage final at the Asian Games in Nagoya. Chheda secured 11th place and Sud 13th in the second individual qualifier, ensuring India filled both its available berths. Fellow riders Shruti Vora and Gaurav Pundhir, however, did not make the cut.
Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha has voiced strong objections to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organisers' decision to forgo a conventional Athletes Village, opting instead for dispersed accommodation including a cruise ship. Usha, a former Asian Games athlete, highlighted the importance of a centralised village for athlete interaction and expressed concerns about logistical challenges and venue distances. She believes the traditional village system will endure despite this experiment and shared her excitement for India's performance and future hosting ambitions.
A senior coach from India's shooting contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has voiced disappointment over the logistical arrangements, particularly the long travel times to the training venue.
India's Sharath Makanahalli secured a bronze medal in the men's 1500m T12 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Wednesday, achieving a season's best time. This marks his second medal at the Games, following a silver in the previous edition.
Para-swimmer Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh was detained by Japanese police and deported to India following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female hotel employee during the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya.
Indian golfer Pranavi Urs, who won a gold medal at the Asian Games, was presented with a cheque of Rs one crore by MP Anurag Thakur on behalf of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) in recognition of her achievement.
Sachin Sarjerao Khilari secured a gold medal with a new Games record in the men's shot put F46 event at the Asian Para Games.
India's Rinku clinched a gold medal in the men's javelin F46 event at the Asian Para Games, leading a one-two finish for the country as compatriot Ajeet Singh secured a silver. Rinku's throw of 65.11m narrowly beat Ajeet's 65.02m.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to interact with the Indian contingent from the recently-concluded Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday. The event, taking place at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, will see the PM address the athletes, coaches, and sports officials. India secured 85 medals, finishing fourth, a lower tally than the 2023 Hangzhou edition's 106 medals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the Indian contingent for their commendable performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. He praised the athletes for their determination, passion, and sporting spirit, acknowledging their role in bringing immense joy to the nation. India secured fourth place with 85 medals, and Modi expressed hope that these Games would inspire future achievements and strengthen grassroots sports.
Arshdeep Singh is making the most of the rain-affected Asian Games in Nagoya, enjoying a romantic time with girlfriend Samreen Kaur and sharing a charming post from Nagoya Castle.
Indian para-athlete Dharmaraj Solairaj successfully defended his gold medal in the men's T44/T62/T64 long jump combined event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. He set a new Asian record with a jump of 7.15m.
India's visually-impaired judokas snared two medals at the Asian Para Games on Monday with Kokila winning a silver in women's J2 -52kg category and Kapil Parmar clinching a bronze in the men's J1 -70kg division.
India's Deepthi Jeevanji secured her second consecutive Asian Para Games gold medal in the women's 400m T20 event, setting a new Games record. The 23-year-old athlete, who also holds the Asian record and is a Paralympic bronze winner, overcame a challenging background with support from her parents and Pullela Gopichand.
Indian para-athlete Rinku Hooda won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw F46 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. Despite being deeply affected by his mother's passing in August and battling a shoulder injury, Hooda dedicated his victory to her. He aims to secure a Paralympics medal next, having previously won medals at various international championships.
Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda, who secured two gold medals and a silver, served as India's flag-bearer at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, marking a historic campaign for the country.
Former national-level taekwondo player Sachin Chamaria, who suffered a spinal injury in 2008, has transitioned to boccia and is now competing at the Para Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He aims for a medal and hopes to raise awareness for the sport in India, having already made a winning start to his campaign.
The Sports Ministry has approved the late inclusion of two Boccia athletes, Sachin Chamaria and Anjali Devi, into India's contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Para Asian Games, bringing the total athlete count to 168. The overall contingent, including 113 officials, now stands at 281. This year's team is smaller than the previous Games due to the absence of certain disciplines and strict quota restrictions, particularly in para athletics. India aims to build on its record-breaking 108-medal haul from the last edition.
India-Pakistan clashes in cricket and hockey drew big audiences at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, helping fuel stronger viewership and a 20% revenue rise.
Paralympic champions Pramod Bhagat and Bhavina Patel have been chosen as flag bearers for the Indian contingent at the upcoming Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from October 18 to 24. Both athletes have significant achievements in their respective sports, and their selection aims to inspire the team.
Shailesh Kumar led an Indian sweep of the men's high jump T63 competition, while sprinter Anjanaben Bumbadiya struck gold in the women's 400m T47 event at the Asian Para Games on Thursday.
Haryana's athletes, who secured an impressive 32 medals including 14 gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, received a warm welcome from Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam. The minister and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini lauded their performance, highlighting the state's significant contribution to India's overall medal tally and its strong sporting culture.
