Asian Games open with Qatar win

GAME START: Basketball is among several events such as cricket, hockey and modern pentathlon to start before the opening ceremony of the Asian Games on Sept. 19

The Asian Games began in Japan yesterday when Qatar beat Iran in the men’s basketball opening group game, the first action in the continental multisport showpiece that has more participants than the Olympics.

More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected to take part in 43 sports at the Nagoya-Aichi Games — which do not officially start until the opening ceremony on Saturday next week and runs through Oct. 4.

Several events such as basketball, soccer, cricket, hockey and modern pentathlon are to get under way before the opening ceremony.

Qatar’s Mike Lewis II, left, dribbles in the men’s basketball group B game between Iran and Qatar during the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, yesterday.

Photo: AFP

Qatar held off a comeback from Iran to win their Group B encounter 59-35 at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya in the first match of a men’s basketball competition that would hold medal finals on Sept. 20, the day after the opening ceremony.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympics qualifying spots are up for grabs in several sports at the Asian Games, which are returning to Japan for the first time since 1994.

Organizers hope the athletes would have a “unique experience” staying in eye-catching accommodation ranging from a cruise liner and wooden containers to standard hotel rooms.

Officials are confident that the plan would not be affected by Japan’s typhoon season, which is usually in full swing from this month to next month.

Weather has already caused disruptions, with record rainfall on Tuesday forcing hundreds of athletes to evacuate their accommodation briefly.

Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days.

Among those in action at the Games would be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of world-class teenage talent in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.