Curtain falls on Asian Games

The Asian Games in Japan closed on Sunday after a fortnight lit up by record-smashing young stars. A celebratory closing ceremony full of colour and song saw Japan hand over hosting duties to Doha 2030. "Tonight we close a Games that will shape the next generation of Asian sport," said Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who declared the Games closed at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. China once again led the way in this year's Games with 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze medals, its best haul at an overseas Asiad. Hosts Japan ranked second with 83 gold, 95 silver and 91 bronze medals, followed by South Korea with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals. Hong Kong, China sat ninth in the standings, garnering 11 gold, 19 silver and 24 bronze medals for its best showing ever. Rugby sevens gold medallist Cado Lee was the flag bearer for the SAR at the closing ceremony. Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson and Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi were named the men's and women's Most Valuable Players of the Games. The Thai sprinter completed the 100m-200m double. Yu, just 13, is on track for a huge Los Angeles Olympics two years later after claiming three individual gold medals in the Tokyo pool. Her 19-year-old teammate Zhang Zhanshuo ⁠became the first swimmer to win seven golds at the Games. Some 17,000 athletes and officials came for the Aichi-Nagoya showpiece, competing in 469 gold-medal events spanning Tokyo to Osaka. The massive scale clashed with organisers' planning for a "simple, streamlined and functional event" – and the results were often chaotic. Athletes and teams complained of bungled accommodation and transport, prompting repeated apologies from the embarrassed organising committee. This 20th edition of the Games, which were first contested in 1951, did not have a traditional athletes' village in a bid to save money. Instead, participants were housed in wooden temporary units, on cruise ship the Costa Serena and in hotels. Games organisers were on the back foot as well over attendances, with the opening ceremony taking place in front of thousands of empty seats. At the women's football semi-final between hosts Japan and South Korea there were 998 spectators in a 50,000 stadium. "If I had to say, well, I don't think it was a success," Nagoya resident Naoko Toda, who watched several competitions, said before the closing ceremony. Qatar is set to host the next Asiad in 2030, though the OCA may elect to push it back a year to serve as the continent's Olympic qualifiers before Brisbane 2032. (Xinhua and agencies) Edited by Edmond Fong

2026-10-04 19:25:00