Asian Games open in Japan after troubled build-up

NAGOYA, Japan - The 20th Asian Games opened in Japan on Saturday with a message of unity following a troubled build-up to the multi-sport spectacular that has more athletes than the Olympics.

There were, however, a large number of empty seats at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Nagoya, where a subdued crowd saw a colourful opening ceremony with the main stage in the shape of a giant heart.

The first gold medal will be won on Sunday morning, likely in the men’s individual triathlon, and will be followed by 468 more in more than 40 sports before the curtain comes down on October 4.

The event in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs in seven sports and will be graced by global stars.

But it has been dogged by a series of problems in the lead-up.

The 17,000 participants — more than the Olympics — stretched organisers to the limit as they scrambled to find accommodation for everyone.

To save money there is no traditional athletes’ village, competitors instead staying in a combination of temporary container-style huts, hotels and cruise ship the Costa Serena.

To add to the issues, there was a record deluge last week which flooded parts of Nagoya city and now a tropical storm is approaching eastern Japan that could cause further disruption on Sunday-Monday.

Some athletes were left stranded at the airport when transport failed to turn up and several teams have complained about the quality of the huts, including the beds being too short.

North-South anthem gaffe

In the latest mishap, North Korea’s national anthem was played on Friday for South Korea’s men’s hockey team before their match against Bangladesh in Gifu on Friday.

“This is a really serious problem,” said South Korea coach Min Tae-seok.

The North Korean anthem was played first, followed by Bangladesh’s. The South Korean anthem was played later.

The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee lodged an official complaint, describing the incident as “absolutely unacceptable”. The Games organising committee later apologised.

Problems aside, organisers are insisting that the latest edition of the Games, which were first held in 1951, will be “the most spectacular for generations”.

Basketball, football and cricket are among the sports already under way.

As always at the Asian Games, Olympic staples such as athletics and swimming will sit side-by-side with regional favourites like sepak takraw and kabaddi.

In a bid to attract younger viewers there will be eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling.

Padel, the fast-growing racquet sport, and MMA will make their Asian Games debuts. (Story continues below)

Skywriting in the shape of a heart created by Kawasaki T-4s of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force appears over Nagoya, the Asian Games co-host, on Sept 19, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Young stars to shine

Among those competing will be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of prodigies in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.

Yu will be in action in the pool straightaway on Sunday in the heats of the women’s 200m butterfly.

Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting will also be competing, two years after she won Paris Olympics gold in the middle of a major gender row that saw her eligibility questioned.

Hosts Japan will look to their Olympic champions for success, with gymnast Shinnosuke Oka and javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi named in their team.

North Korea will have more than 100 athletes competing across 14 sports, aiming to “bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un”.

China will again expect to top the medals table after winning a whopping 201 golds and 383 medals on home soil in Hangzhou at the Covid-delayed Games in 2023.

They are sending more than 800 athletes, including 36 Olympic champions.

Sooryavanshi will be part of an India cricket team looking to make a statement before the sport returns to the Olympics in Los Angeles after an absence of 128 years.

India could face bitter rivals Pakistan in the final at Nagoya’s new purpose-built cricket ground — if forecast rain does not intervene.