The XXI Asian Games started in Japan on Saturday, running from September 19 to October 4. These quadrennial competitions include 43 sports and gather over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions.
A more optimized opening ceremony
The opening ceremony, held at the Mizuho Park Stadium in Nagoya, lasted about two hours. It was organized according to the concept of 'Games for Social Good,' emphasizing sustainable and low-carbon practices. Performances, stage decorations, and props were simplified, while greater attention was paid to emotional expression.
Delegations entered the stadium in alphabetical order according to the Japanese syllabary. Organizers allocated more time to the parade of athletes, allowing participants from different countries and regions to have a more prominent place in the ceremony.
China's team is ready to shine again
China sent 815 athletes to participate in 38 sports and 369 disciplines. The team is relatively young: 27% of its athletes were born in 2005 or later. According to the Chinese Olympic Committee, 548 of them are participating in the Asian Games for the first time, and 306 have previously competed in the Olympics or Asian Games.
Basketball player Hu Mingshuang and boxer Wu Yu, who competes in the women's 50 kg category, won a gold medal at the 2023 World Boxing Championships and the Asian Games in Hangzhou that same year. Wu also helped the Chinese men's basketball team win bronze in Hangzhou and will lead the team at the current Asian Games.
Tekvball, a game combining football skills and table tennis on a curved court, is included in the Asian Games program for the first time this year.
New sports and Asian favorites this year
The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya feature a combination of traditional Olympic disciplines and sports with strong Asian roots. Among the main Olympic events, such as athletics, swimming, badminton, and boxing, there are Asian favorites, including Kabaddi, Sepak Takraw, Wushu, Kurash, and Jiu-Jitsu.
Several new sports and disciplines are debuting this year. Padel and Tekvball were added to the program in March, increasing the total number of sports from 41 to 43. Surfing is also debuting at the Asian Games, offering shortboard competitions for men and women.
BMX freestyle—a cycling discipline where athletes perform a series of tricks and jumps on specially designed tracks—and mixed martial arts (MMA) join the list of debuts. Virtual Taekwondo, with one mixed individual event, has also been added to the program for the first time. Meanwhile, wrestling and esports, which officially debuted at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, will return to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.