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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured two silver medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, winning an individual silver in the women's 10m air rifle event and contributing to a team silver. Her individual performance saw her finish closely behind Japan's Hinata Taichi, who set a new Asian Games record.
Organisers of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya are preparing for potential disruptions as Tropical Storm Dujuan, with maximum sustained winds of 90 kph, heads towards central Japan, threatening events already underway.
Suchika Tariyal has secured India's first-ever medal in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by reaching the semifinals of the women's 60kg event. The veteran multi-discipline combat athlete defeated Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 and will compete in the semifinals on Monday, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal as MMA makes its Asian Games debut.
India's women's 10m air rifle team, comprising Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod, secured a silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. This marks India's first confirmed medal at the event, with Sonam and Elavenil also qualifying for the individual final.
A small contingent of the 74-member Indian athletics team is still awaiting visa clearance for Japan, potentially impacting their acclimatisation camp ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. AFI officials are working to resolve the issue, which stems from VFS requirements regarding application locations.
The Asian Games shooting range in Nagoya has implemented a strict dress code for photographers and TV cameramen, leading to some confusion among media personnel. While the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has long had such rules, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee has made them exceptionally clear, even requiring a video journalist to change from blue to black jeans. The rules aim to maintain a professional appearance and distinguish shooting as a sport, reflecting Japan's meticulous approach to event organisation.
China has established a significant lead in the Aich-Nagoya Asian Games medal tally after the third official day, securing 53 medals including 32 golds. Japan and Korea follow in second and third place respectively, while India is currently positioned eighth with 7 medals.
Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan congratulated the Indian women's cricket team for winning the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, praising their inspiring performance.
India's women's table tennis team commenced their Asian Games campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Indonesia in their opening Group F match. Sreeja Akula, Diya Chitale, and Yashaswini Ghorpade each secured wins in their respective rubbers, ensuring a dominant start for the Indian contingent.
Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured two silver medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, winning an individual silver in the women's 10m air rifle event and contributing to a team silver. Her performance marks an encouraging start for India's shooting campaign, which aims to build on the success of the previous Hangzhou Asian Games.
The 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, running from September 19 to October 4, will feature approximately 17,000 athletes from 45 countries competing in 469 medal events across 43 sports. Japan hosts for the third time, introducing new sports like mixed martial arts and virtual taekwondo, while also serving as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India women's head coach Amol Muzumdar and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur view the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as crucial preparation and a 'teaser' for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where women's cricket will make its debut, aiming to carry their winning mindset into both global events.
Indian athletes, including wushu and table tennis players, faced initial check-in difficulties upon arrival for the Asian Games in Nagoya. While some wushu players and coaches reportedly had issues with room allocation on the designated cruise ship, officials stated the problems were resolved. The Games' accommodation plan involves a mix of cruise ships, container rooms, and hotels, with some contingents already raising concerns about the quality and availability of lodging.
Jay Meena's historic run ended with a bronze, but he leaves Nagoya having achieved something no Indian soft tennis player had managed before.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his best wishes to the Indian contingent participating in the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Japan inaugurated the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya with a vibrant opening ceremony that seamlessly blended advanced technology and rich cultural traditions, despite earlier organisational challenges.
India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has reached the women's singles semifinals in Teqball at the Asian Games, securing a chance for the country's first-ever medal in the sport. She defeated top-seeded Yuina Sakamoto and Cambodia's Koemyean DY to top her group, and a win in the semifinals will guarantee a historic medal.
Indian wushu athletes Suraj Singh Mayanglambam, Aparna Dahiya, and Vikrant Baliyan faced mixed fortunes at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has made a strong start at the 2026 Asian Games, securing two victories in the Teqball women's singles event to reach the semi-finals.
Indian Teqball players Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg were eliminated from the men's doubles competition at the Asian Games after losing both their group matches.
Mixed Martial Arts fighter Varun Sanyal, son of PM's Economic Advisory Council member Sanjiv Sanyal, was briefly hospitalised in Nagoya after passing out in a sauna while cutting weight for a competition. He has since recovered and is stable.
Indian fencers Gisho Nidhi Kumaresan Padma, Mina Devi Naorem, and Ashitha Stalinraj Joys were eliminated from the Asian Games in Nagoya. Kumaresan lost in the men's individual sabre pre-quarterfinals, while Mina Devi and Ashitha exited in the women's individual foil round of 32.
Washington Sundar and Sanju Samson were seen enjoying a rainy evening stroll in Tokyo, ahead of India's historic first-ever T20 International against Japan in Sano on Tuesday.
The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
India's large contingent of 501 athletes is set to compete at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, aiming to showcase the nation's growing sporting depth and its ambition to become a global top-10 sporting power by 2036. Despite initial accommodation challenges, the focus is on building on the momentum from the record 2022 Hangzhou Games, with strong medal hopes in shooting, athletics, cricket, badminton, and hockey.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mirabai Chanu for winning Asian Games silver, praising her determination as the medal completed her major championship collection and lifted India's tally to 11.
Track the Asian Games 2026 medal table with live updates, countrywise rankings, gold, silver, and bronze counts. Stay updated on India's performance and overall standings.
