The anthem of the DPRK and a 13-year-old swimmer. How to remember the Asian Games-2026 in Japan

The XX Summer Asian Games of 2026 were held from September 19 to October 4 in Japan, in Aichi and Nagoya Prefecture. In the overall medal standings, China won (341 medals), followed by Japan (269) and South Korea (150), and India (85) and Uzbekistan (70) closed the top 5. The next Asian Games will be held in Qatar in 2030.

The Asian Games (Asian Games) is the largest sporting event on the continent, it is held by the Olympic Council of Asia every four years. The Asian Games were first held at the initiative of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951 in New Delhi, who saw sport as a way to "restore war-torn ties between Asian countries.".

The sporting event in Japan was attended by about 17,000 athletes and officials, which exceeds the number of participants in the summer Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, reports Reuters. The program of the Asian Games included 43 disciplines, including for the first time Padel, mixed martial arts (MMA), tekbol and surfing.

Meanwhile, competitors in Japan faced organizational challenges in accommodation and logistics. In particular, the Pakistan volleyball team was brought to the wrong arena for a match with a team from Uzbekistan. As Reuters writes, in order to reduce costs, the organizers did not build a separate village for athletes, placing them “in various hotels, wooden container modules and on a cruise ship”, and the budget was calculated for fewer people.

The first major sporting event in Japan since the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was marred by low attendance. At the event, there was a diplomatic curiosity, when before the game of the South Korean men’s field hockey team against the Bangladesh team, the organizers accidentally turned on the anthem of the DPRK.

At the same time, the Asian Games were remembered for the performances of young athletes led by 13-year-old swimmer from China Yu Tzudi, who won three gold medals in Japan. Recognized as the best athlete of the Asian Games, Yu can count on a grand success at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, according to Reuters. Another highlight was a new world record in swimming breaststroke at a distance of 200 meters, it was set by 17-year-old Japanese Shin Ohashi (2 minutes 4.83 seconds).