The 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, are underway in Japan from 19 September to 4 October. Athletes from across the continent are competing in 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 events, making this one of the biggest editions of the Asian Games. More than 11,000 athletes representing 45 National Olympic Committees are taking part, with competitions being held across 54 venues in Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya and other locations in Japan. The programme has been expanded with six new sports and disciplines: mixed martial arts (MMA), padel, teqball, surfing, BMX freestyle and virtual taekwondo.
The Asian Games have a long history in the region. The first edition was held in New Delhi in 1951, with athletes from 11 countries participating. Since then, the event has grown into Asia’s largest multi-sport competition. Japan is hosting the Games for the third time, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 therefore marks the return of the Asian Games to Japan after 32 years. The theme of the Games is ‘Imagine One Asia’ , reflecting the idea of sport bringing people together across differences of languages, cultures and nationalities. The official mascot of the game, HONOHON, represents the fiery passion of competing athletes combined with Shachihoko, the protective guardian creature of Aichi-Nagoya. Its name comes from “Honoho”, the ancient origin of the Japanese word for “flame” which evokes images of a brightly burning fire shaped like rice ear (“ho”).
Although some competitions, including those in football, basketball, volleyball, and teqball, began earlier, the Games were formally opened on 19 September at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. Emperor Naruhito of Japan declared the 20th Asian Games open. The ceremony included the Parade of Nations, cultural performances, and the concluding stages of the torch relay. One of the highlights of the event was the historic debut of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Refugee Team, comprising two taekwondo athletes and two officials, who marched behind the OCA flag. Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and Asian Games Gold medallist, kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat, proudly carried the tricolour, leading the Indian contingent into the stadium.
India has sent a 503-member contingent, comprising 269 men and 234 women, and is competing in 36 of the 43 sports at Aichi-Nagoya. Shooting provided India’s first medals of the Games. Sonam Uttam Maskar, Elavenil Valarivan and Vidarsa K Vinod won silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event, while Elavenil Valarivan added another silver in the individual event. India also made an early impact in the men’s 10m air rifle competition where Himanshu Dhillon won silver (individual) and Rudrankksh Patil bronze (individual), while Dhillon, Patil and Parth Rakesh Mane won silver in the team event. Another milestone came in MMA, where Suchika Tariyal won bronze in the women’s traditional 60kg category. The result gave India its first-ever Asian Games medal in MMA. As of 21 September, these results took India’s tally to six medals: four silver and two bronze. India’s women’s cricket team has also reached the final, guaranteeing a medal. India’s campaign continues across athletics, shooting, boxing, hockey, badminton, table tennis, kabaddi, cricket, swimming, wushu, and other disciplines as the games progress.
From an 11-nation gathering in New Delhi in 1951 to the participation of more than 11,000 athletes in Aichi-Nagoya, the Asian Games have grown substantially over the decades. The 2026 edition adds another chapter to that history by returning to Japan after 32 years, introducing new sports, and bringing athletes from across Asia together in competition.
