Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games declared closed, pass the baton to Doha for 2030

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games ended on Sunday after more than two weeks of intense sporting competition, with the Olympic Council of Asia formally handing over the baton to Doha, which will host the 2030 edition.

OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani declared the 20th Asian Games closed at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium. Thousands of athletes, officials and spectators gathered at the closing ceremony, which was themed “One Asia”. OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani waves the flag of the Olympic Council of Asia (Reuters photo)

Shooter Neeru Dhandha, one of India’s most prominent performers at the Games, was the country’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony. Dhandha won two gold medals and a silver in Aichi-Nagoya.

India finished fourth in the overall medal standings with 85 medalsof which 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. It was a drop from the 106 medals, including 28 gold, won at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, with India finishing fourth both times.

China led the way with 341 medals, including 169 gold. Japan was second with 269 medals and 83 golds, while South Korea finished third with 150 medals, including 39 golds.

India’s fourth-place finish keeps it among Asia’s top sporting nations, but the gap to the top remains considerable. With the country aiming to break into the top 10 at the 2036 Olympics and finish in the top five by 2047, sustained improvement across disciplines is an important goal. Athletes from India in a parade of athletes during the closing ceremony (Photo Reuters)

A late surge kept India in the top four. The country won 11 gold medals in the last two days of the competition, a run that proved crucial to its final position in the table.

The biggest shortfall occurred in the two traditional medal disciplines, shooting and athletics. Both arrived in Aichi-Nagoya with high expectations but returned with fewer medals than they managed in Hangzhou, highlighting concerns about consistency, handling pressure and preparation.

The games themselves were not without controversy.

Around 17,000 athletes and officials traveled to Aichi-Nagoya, with competitors taking part in 469 gold medal events. The competition was spread across various locations from Tokyo to Osaka. The scale of the event ran counter to the organisers’ stated aim of running a ‘simple, efficient and functional event’, with problems with accommodation and transport causing repeated headaches.

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Athletes and teams complained of poor accommodation and transport, prompting repeated apologies from the organizing committee.

“Accommodation, transport and other issues – it seems to have affected many teams,” Hong Kong team chief of mission Wong Po-kee told Reuters on Sunday.

Organizers opted for a combination of hotels, wooden container units and cruise ships to accommodate athletes and officials, rather than building a dedicated athlete village as a cost-cutting measure.

. . Led by two-time Asian Games gold medalist Neeru Dhanda, the Indian contingent marches into the closing ceremony carrying memories, medals and moments of an unforgettable Aichi-Nagoya 2026 campaign. From historic golds to hard-fought podium finishes, Team India has given us plenty to celebrate. #SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #AsianGames #AichiNagoya2026 #BaarBaarBharatHarBaarBharat — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 4, 2026

They had a budget of about 15,000 athletes and officials, which was about 2,000 less than the final number of registrations, and were struggling to cope with the additional demand.

Some athletes reportedly waited up to 12 hours for registration to be completed upon arrival. Others found their rooms double-booked or found themselves sharing them with teammates they shouldn’t have been staying with.

Traffic problems persisted throughout the games. Shuttle buses sometimes failed to arrive or took athletes to the wrong locations, resulting in several competitions being delayed.

South Korea’s delegation was among the most vocal critics of the organization. His team chef de mission gave the games an “F” for their organization.

After South Korea won the men’s soccer gold medal against Japan on Saturday, there was an awkward moment when the South Korean flag could not be raised during the victory ceremony.

Earlier in the games, North Korea’s national anthem was played for South Korea’s men’s ice hockey team, adding to the list of organizational mistakes.

Another concern was attendance. Five years after the Tokyo Olympics were held without fans due to COVID-19 restrictions, Japan’s first major multi-sport event has since struggled to attract large crowds. The flags of Japan and Qatar during the closing ceremony (Photo Reuters)

Fewer than 1,000 spectators watched the Japanese women’s soccer team beat South Korea in the semi-finals at the 50,000-capacity stadium.

A few smaller places were also sparsely visited. Many of them were located in remote areas, making it difficult for spectators to access.

“If I had to say, well, I don’t think it was a success,” Nagoya resident Naoko Toda, who watched several competitions, told Reuters before the closing ceremony.

However, the OCA declared Aichi-Nagoya a success and praised the organizers for delivering the Games through a modest model.

Aichi-Nagoya also expanded the Asian Games program. Padel, mixed martial arts, teqball and surfing made their debuts, with the event featuring a record 43 sports, a program that was bigger than that of the Paris Olympics.

The Asian Games began on September 19 and ended on October 4, ending more than two weeks of competition.

For India, the final medal tally brought positives and reminders of the work ahead. Fourth place was retained, but the haul of 85 medals fell well short of the 106 won in Hangzhou. The late gold rush ensured India’s retention among the continent’s leading sporting nations, while performances in shooting and athletics highlighted areas that will require attention.

The baton now passes to Doha.

Qatar will host the Asian Games in 2030, although the OCA may consider moving the event to 2031 to serve as a continental Olympic qualifier ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

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