Asian Games 2026: Curtain comes down in Aichi-Nagoya as Doha receives flag for 2030

Indian contingent during the parade of athletes at the closing ceremony. (Photo by Reuters) The 20th Asian Games came to a scintillating close on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on more than two weeks of sporting events in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as Qatar received the flag for the next edition in Doha 2030. The President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, who officially celebrated the end of the Games at Miahlezuho Stadium, Asian Athletics Excellence.Thousands of athletes, officials and spectators gathered at the closing ceremony, which was themed “One Asia”. The talks also included a formal handover to Qatari representatives, with Doha preparing to host the continent’s premier multi-sport event in four years.India’s Neeru Dhanda, who enjoyed a memorable campaign with two gold medals and a silver in shooting, carried the national flag at the ceremony, capping off a momentous outing for the Indian contingent.

India finished fourth with 85 medals

India signed off with 85 medals – 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze – to finish fourth in the overall standings behind China, Japan and South Korea.The campaign featured notable performances in shooting, athletics, boxing, hockey and other disciplines, underscoring India’s growing depth across sports. Neeru’s exceptional catch was among the highlights as India’s gold medal winning hockey campaigns secured qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.India’s performance also continued a wider trend of consistent medal hauls at recent Asian Games following the historic 100-medal milestone at Hangzhou 2023. The Aichi-Nagoya edition offered further evidence of the country’s expanding presence in the continental sporting landscape, although the final tally fell short of the previous year’s medal total.

Indian flag bearer Neeru Dhanda and others during the closing ceremony. (PTI Photo)

Doha gets the baton for 2030

The closing ceremony formally shifted the focus to the next host city, with Doha set to welcome the Asian sports community in 2030. The handover marked the start of preparations for the second Asian Games in Qatar, following the hosting of the event in 2006.The Aichi-Nagoya Games featured 469 gold medals in a record program of 43 sports with around 17,000 athletes and officials participating. Several disciplines, including padel, mixed martial arts, teqball and surfing, made their debut at the Asian Games, reflecting the evolving sporting landscape.China topped the standings with 169 gold medals out of a total of 341 medals, marking its best haul of gold medals at an Asian Games held outside its home territory. Hosts Japan finished second with 83 golds and 269 medals, surpassing their previous gold record from Hiroshima 1994.

Qatari equestrian Jassim Al Kuwari rides with the Olympic Council of Asia flag during the closing ceremony. (AP photo)

Sporting brilliance amidst organizational challenges

Despite the excitement on the pitch, the Games faced criticism over accommodation and transport. Organizers decided against building a dedicated village for the athletes, instead using hotels, modular accommodation and a cruise ship to house the participants.Registration delays, problems with room allocation and unreliable shuttle services affected several delegations, while diplomatic and ceremonial mix-ups added to the difficulties. Attendance was also muted at several venues, with accessibility issues contributing to disappointing crowds.However, the competition produced some remarkable individual performances, led by Chinese teenage swimming sensation Yu Zidi and seven-time gold medalist Zhang Zhanshuo, alongside outstanding displays in athletics and other disciplines.As Aichi-Nagoya handed over the baton to Doha, the Games ended with a celebration of sporting achievement, although organizational flaws offered important lessons for next year.