Asian Games 2026 End in Japan, Doha to Host 2030 Edition
The Asian Games 2026 close in Japan and head to Qatar in 2030 after the 20th edition ended in Aichi-Nagoya on October 4. About 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions competed across 43 sports before the Olympic Council of Asia formally handed the Games to Doha for the 2030 edition.
China finished first in the medal standings with 169 gold medals and 341 medals overall. Japan was second with 83 gold and 269 medals, followed by South Korea with 39 gold and 150 medals. India finished fourth with 21 gold and 85 medals.
The Asian Games 2026 produced several notable performances. Japan’s 17-year-old Shin Ohashi set a world record in the men’s 200-metre breaststroke with a time of 2 minutes and 4.83 seconds.
China’s 13-year-old Yu Zidi won the women’s 200-metre butterfly and helped secure gold in the 200- and 400-metre medley relays. Organisers named her the female MVP, while Thailand’s Puripol Boonson earned the male MVP award after winning the 100 and 200 metres.
India retained the men’s cricket title by defeating Pakistan, while South Korea won men’s football and baseball. South Korean athletes who won gold in selected events were eligible for exemptions from mandatory military service, while golfer Tom Kim also secured the exemption with his men’s singles victory.
The Nagoya Asian Games also faced logistical problems. Organisers acknowledged bus delays, while reports highlighted transport mistakes, accommodation difficulties and other operational issues. Athletes and officials were housed in hotels, a cruise ship and temporary accommodation instead of a conventional Games Village.
The event featured regional sports including kabaddi, kurash and sepaktakraw, while mixed martial arts also made its Asian Games debut. The competition stretched beyond Nagoya, with venues in other Japanese cities adding pressure to the transport network.
The Asian Games 2030 will be held in Doha, Qatar. The OCA formally passed its flag to Qatar during the closing ceremony, marking the transition from Aichi-Nagoya to the next host. OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, who is also president of the Qatar Olympic Committee, took part in the handover.
The Asian Games 2026 close in Japan and head to Qatar in 2030, therefore ending an edition defined by strong performances, young medal winners and organisational challenges, while Doha now prepares to stage the next continental multi-sport event.