Asian Games 2026 Highlights: Japan’s Emperor Opens Edition in Colourful Opening Ceremony
India sent 501 athletes and will compete in 36 sports as the Games open with 469 gold medals at stake, officials said.
- On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Emperor Naruhito officially declared the 20th Asian Games open at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, marking the start of the continental sporting event.
- The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will run through October 4, with around 11,000 athletes competing across 43 sports for a total of 469 gold medals.
- Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat led India's 501-member contingent, aiming to exceed their record 106-medal haul from Hangzhou 2023 across 36 sports.
- India's women's cricket team reached the semi-finals after defeating Japan, while teqball player Quimcy D'Souza will compete for bronze after losing her women's singles semi-final.
- Emperor Naruhito attended the ceremony alongside Empress Masako as the Games introduce new disciplines including esports, teqball, and virtual taekwondo for the first time.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Asian Games open in Aichi-Nagoya as Manu, Pawan lead India at Parade of Nations
Japan's Emperor Naruhito declared the 20th Asian Games officially open in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday after a colourful, high-tech opening ceremony at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium brought an end to days of organisational chaos.
[OSEN=Nagoya (Japan), Reporter Park Jun-hyung] The opening ceremony of the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was held on the 19th at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. At the opening ceremony, the Korean delegation, consisting of 50 athletes competing in 9 sports led by flag bearers Kim Dong-yong and Shin Yu-bin, entered 16th in the order of English country names. The Asian Games will run until October 4. Japanese Emperor Naruhito a…
The President of the Asian Olympic Council, His Excellency Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, witnessed the opening ceremony of the twentieth Asian Games of Ichiya 2026, which took place at the Mezoho Park Power Stadium in Nagoya...
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