The city of Nagoya is preparing to host one of Asia's largest sporting events—the 20th Asian Games, which will capture the attention of millions of fans from across the continent.
Iran will send a large delegation to Japan, consisting of experienced champions, recognized medal contenders, and promising young athletes, all striving to make a significant impact on the Asian sporting arena.
The final composition of the Iranian team numbers 522 people, including 312 athletes. The size of this team has been the subject of active discussion in recent months. Initially, Iranian officials emphasized an approach based on 'quality,' focusing on athletes with real chances of winning medals, but the delegation's composition gradually increased after new quotas were added.
At one point, another 26 quotas were added to the initial list, raising questions about whether quantity ultimately prevailed over quality. Nevertheless, a larger delegation does not necessarily mean lower quality. Iran remains a serious contender for medals in several major disciplines, where wrestling, taekwondo, weightlifting, and shooting are expected to form the core of the medal campaign.
Shooting is one of Iran's strongest hopes for medals, as 14 Iranian shooters will participate in the competitions in Japan. Weightlifting will also attract significant attention. The Iranian contingent includes well-known names such as Mostafa Javadi, Ali Alipour, and Ali Davoudi, as well as two female weightlifters. However, the competition will be fierce, as traditional Asian weightlifting powers leave little room for error.
Athletics is another discipline generating high expectations; the goal of 10 medals was discussed, although achieving this figure will be challenging given the gap between some Iranian athletes and continental top performances.
Nine Iranian athletes will compete in rowing, hoping to end a 16-year wait for a gold medal at the Asian Games. In team sports, the Iranian volleyball team maintains its status as one of the continent's leading contenders. However, basketball, football, and several other teams will face more serious difficulties. Specifically, the Iranian U23 football team was placed in a group with China, North Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, with concerns raised over limited preparation and lack of friendly matches.
In addition to already known medal contenders, Nagoya 2026 could be a valuable platform for Iran's younger generation. For some, this may be their first major international experience, potentially marking the beginning of a path to future success.
Combining seasoned champions and rising talents, Iran arrives in Japan with sincere hope of securing a substantial number of medals. From wrestling and taekwondo to shooting, weightlifting, volleyball, athletics, and rowing—the expectation is clear: Iran wants to assert itself across Asia.
The 20th Asian Games will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. While the continent's top athletes gather for the two-week competition, millions of Iranians will watch their national delegation with hope and pride, dreaming of gold, silver, and bronze medals and seeing the Iranian flag raised above the podium in Nagoya.