XXI Asian Games opened in Nagoya, Japan, as a celebration of sport and culture

The opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 took place on September 19 in the city of Nagoya, Japan. Uzbekistan is participating in the continental competitions, sending 396 athletes who will compete in 42 sports disciplines.

The event was held at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The games were officially opened by Japanese Emperor Naruhito. The competitions will last for 16 days and conclude on October 4.

The theme of the ceremony was 'Harmonious Heartbeat'. The Games mascot, Honohon, participated in the program. A kabuki actor's performance against the backdrop of the Nagoya Castle model was presented, as well as a musical program by Japanese violinist Taro Hakase. Before the ceremony, the Japanese self-defense aerobatic team Blue Impulse flew over the stadium.

The ceremony was attended by Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino and his spouse, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, Asian Olympic Council President Sheikh Juan bin Hamad Al Thani, and Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura, who heads the Games organizing committee.

The torch for the Asian Games was brought from Tokyo and Hiroshima, which hosted the continental competitions in 1958 and 1994, respectively.

The delegation of Uzbekistan was led by world boxing champion Turabek Khabibullaev and Asian Games 2022 fencing champion Gulistan Perdebayeva, who served as flag bearers. Uzbekistan is represented in 42 sports, 36 of which are Olympic and six are non-Olympic. The delegation includes 224 men and 172 women.

For the first time at the Asian Games, Uzbekistan will participate in beach volleyball, volleyball, sailing, squash, and MMA. In several disciplines, including archery, field hockey, tennis, surfing, triathlon, and squash, athletes will also compete for qualification spots for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Uzbekistan finished fifth in the medal table, winning 22 gold, 18 silver, and 31 bronze medals. Aripov called on the athletes to improve this result.

Additionally, the 5th Asian Para Games will also be held in Japan from October 18 to 24, where Uzbekistan will be represented by 153 athletes competing in 11 sports disciplines.

The vibrant opening of the 2026 Asian Games took place in Nagoya. The ceremony was held at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Japan on Saturday, September 19, and featured high-tech and colorful decorations.

The opening was declared by Emperor Naruhito of Japan in the presence of Empress Masako, members of the royal family, Sheikh Juan bin Hamad Al Tani, Chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The ceremony, which lasted about two hours, began with the playing of the Japanese national anthem, followed by the raising of the national flag. Nine members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces brought the flag to the stage, after which the stadium lighting was turned off, and the national flag was illuminated by spotlights.

Next was the parade of athletes from 45 countries and the OCA refugee team, totaling 46 delegations. Representatives of Afghanistan participated first in the parade, while China, an Asian sporting power, drew attention with its contingent of over 800 athletes.

The flag was held by Manu Bhaker, a two-time Olympic medalist from Paris, and Pawan Sehrawat, an Asian Games champion in Kabaddi from Hangzhou. Both representatives of India led the Indian delegation in traditional dark blue suits. It was noted that Pawan Sehrawat was appointed flag bearer at the last minute instead of Tajinderpal Singh Tur because Tur could not attend the ceremony due to the late delivery of the necessary official kit.

Despite the high-tech and colorful event, many empty seats were observed in the stadium, and the overall atmosphere of the celebration seemed less noisy and grand than usual. These empty stands attracted the attention of spectators. The Indian team participating in these games consists of 501 athletes. The goal of the Indian team is to surpass the results achieved at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, where India performed best by winning 106 medals, including 28 gold, and finishing fourth in the overall standings.

Many competitions have already started before the Asian Games opening. For example, the Indian team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, defeated the host Japan by a margin of 8 points in women's cricket and advanced to the semi-finals. Additionally, India is also competing for medals in Teqball, which is entering the Asian Games program for the first time. Kimsi Di'Suja from India lost in the women's singles semi-final in Teqball and will now play for the bronze medal.

The Asian Games will take place from September 19 to October 4. The Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya will host both the opening and closing ceremonies. This time, approximately 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and the OCA refugee team will participate in 43 sports, with 469 gold medals at stake.