The 20th Asian Games in Nagoya
The 20th Asian Games began in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan from the 19th of September and will continue till the 4th of October 2026.
IMAGINE ONE ASIA
With the slogan ” IMAGINE ONE ASIA ” and Mascot ‘ Honohon’, the scale of the games covers 43 sports and 469 Gold Medal Events across 54 venues.
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Japan Under Scrutiny
Japan known for its discipline has come under extreme scrutiny in the context of its preparations, organisation and its anticipation of the weather conditions in Aichi-Nagoya.
Torrential Rain Has Caused Havoc
Torrential downpours and flooding in central Japan hit both logistical operations and outdoor sporting events, leading to a series of delays, venue evacuations, and scheduling changes:
Abandoned Events & Scheduling Chaos
The men’s cricket quarter-finals (including India vs. Afghanistan and Pakistan vs. Hong Kong) were completely washed out due to a drenched playing field. Because no reserve days were scheduled, higher-ranked teams like India and Pakistan advanced directly to the semi-finals without playing.
Disrupted Events
Key outdoor events, including tennis at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Centre, surfing heats, and baseball matches, faced repeated delays, shifts, or postponements.
Athlete Evacuations & Transit Delays
Ahead of and during the initial days of competition, heavy rainfall caused localised flooding in Nagoya, temporarily halting local transit services and forcing hundreds of athletes to briefly evacuate their accommodations.
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Despite The Issues, The Games Have Progressed With China Dominating
The Games, however, have continued despite the problems, and China has completely dominated proceedings. A look at the top 5 countries on the leaderboard.
China: Leading comfortably with 143 gold, 62 silver, and 48 bronze medals (253 total).
Japan: In second place with 44 gold, 71 silver, and 66 bronze medals (181 total).
South Korea: Holding third with 24 gold, 27 silver, and 44 bronze medals (95 total).
Uzbekistan: Sitting in fourth with 13 gold, 17 silver, and 13 bronze medals (43 total).
Thailand: Rounding out the top five with 12 gold, 9 silver, and 12 bronze medals (33 total).
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