Nagoya, September 19, 2026: Pakistan national women’s cricket team captain Fatima Sana and rising squash player Noor Zaman led the country’s delegation as flag-bearers at the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya on Saturday.
According to the Pakistan Olympic Association, a total of 246 Pakistani athletes will compete in 23 disciplines at the Games, including cricket, squash, hockey, athletics and esports. The Asian Games will continue until October 4.
The Games opened with a message of unity following a troubled build-up to the continental multi-sport event, which features more athletes than the Olympic Games.
A colourful opening ceremony was held at the 30,000-capacity stadium, although a large number of seats remained empty. The main stage was designed in the shape of a giant heart.
Japan’s Emperor and Empress received a respectful welcome as they took their seats, while International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry also attended the ceremony.
The first gold medal of the Games is expected to be awarded on Sunday morning, with the men’s individual triathlon among the early events. Athletes from across Asia will compete in more than 40 sports before the Games conclude on October 4.
The Nagoya and Aichi Games also offer qualification opportunities for the 2028 Olympics in seven sports and feature a number of international stars and emerging athletes.
However, organisers have faced several challenges in the run-up to the event. More than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials have placed significant demands on accommodation and logistics.
In an effort to reduce costs, organisers have not provided a traditional athletes’ village. Instead, competitors are staying in temporary container-style accommodation, hotels and the Costa Serena cruise ship.
Nagoya experienced record rainfall last week that flooded parts of the city, while a typhoon approaching eastern Japan threatens further disruption in the coming days.
Some athletes were reportedly stranded at the airport after transport failed to arrive, while several teams complained about the quality of temporary accommodation, including beds that were too short.
In the latest organisational mishap, North Korea’s national anthem was played on Friday for South Korea’s men’s hockey team.
Iranian wushu athlete Zahra Kiani, a two-time Asian Games silver medallist and one of her country’s flag-bearers, is also targeting another medal. She said she had been preparing by watching videos of Chinese athletes online and attempting to replicate their techniques.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said the continent’s premier sporting event, featuring 45 countries and territories, had come at an important time.
OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said the opening ceremony was intended to demonstrate the unity of Asia amid conflicts and political tensions in the region.
Despite organisers saying tickets had been sold out, significant numbers of empty seats were visible inside the stadium. Japan’s athletes received strong support from the home crowd, while China’s delegation also drew some of the loudest cheers.
China will enter the Games seeking another dominant performance after topping the medal table at the delayed Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, where it won 201 gold medals and 383 medals overall.
Several sports, including basketball, football and cricket, were already under way before the official opening ceremony.
The Asian Games, which began in 1951, feature a combination of Olympic sports such as athletics and swimming and popular regional disciplines including sepak takraw and kabaddi. The programme also includes esports, breakdancing and BMX cycling, while padel and mixed martial arts are making their Asian Games debuts.
Among the athletes competing in Nagoya are Philippine tennis star Alexandra Eala, 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.
Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 amid a major gender-eligibility controversy, is also competing.
North Korea has sent more than 100 athletes across 14 sports, with the delegation aiming to secure strong results.
Sooryavanshi is part of India’s cricket team, which is competing ahead of cricket’s return to the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles 2028 Games after a 128-year absence.
India and Pakistan could meet in the cricket final in Nagoya at the newly built cricket venue, provided both teams advance and weather conditions allow the tournament to proceed as scheduled.
