From torrential rain to typhoon threat: Asian Games get off to a turbulent start in Aichi-Nagoya

Inscriptions of the 20th Asian Games on display in Nagoya, central Japan. (Photo by Reuters) The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya face an early weather threat, with organizers bracing for possible disruption from a tropical storm that could intensify into a typhoon and approach central Japan just as the continental multi-sport event gets into full swing.The 20th Asian Games officially begins with an opening ceremony in Nagoya on Saturday, but several competitions have already begun, including football, basketball, volleyball and cricket. The Games are scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4 and feature 43 sports.Tropical Storm Dujuan was located off Japan’s Pacific coast early Thursday and was moving northwest toward central Japan, where Nagoya is located. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 90 km/h, with gusts reaching 126 km/h. Forecasts raised the possibility that the system would approach the Aichi-Nagoya region around Monday.

Heavy rain has already interrupted the games

The weather threat comes after torrential rain hit Nagoya and surrounding areas last week, disrupting traffic and forcing several hundred athletes to evacuate their accommodation.Kosei Inoue, Japan’s chief of mission for the games and a senior member of the Japanese Olympic Committee’s executive board, acknowledged the possibility of further disruptions at a press conference on Thursday.“Due to heavy rain and harsh weather, some competitions have already been delayed or postponed, and there is also a possibility that a typhoon could approach on September 21,” Inoue said.“In these circumstances, we are holding thorough meetings within the JOC to ensure we are fully prepared and able to respond appropriately to these situations.”The possibility of another major weather system adds to the logistical challenge facing organizers who are already managing an unusually large Games involving around 17,000 athletes and officials.READ ALSO: Five of India’s little-known sports will compete at the 2026 Asian Games

China’s cricket campaign ends without a ball

The influence of the weather was already evident in the women’s cricket competition on Thursday. Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals after their quarter-final against China was abandoned due to a wet outdoor pitch at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, with the match being called off without a draw.Bangladesh, ranked 10th in the ICC Women’s T20I Rankings, advanced past China, who are ranked 36th, under the rules of the washout competition. Bangladesh will face the winner of Friday’s quarter-final between defending champions India and Japan in the semi-finals on September 20.The abandoned cricket match was an early reminder of how vulnerable outdoor events can be to the weather during the Games. With the possibility of a typhoon approaching the region on September 21, organizers now face the prospect of dealing with further disruptions just as the Asian Games move into their opening week.