The 20th Asian Games officially kicked off in Japan on Saturday. Running from September 19 to October 4, the quadrennial Games feature 43 sports and bring together more than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions.

A more streamlined opening ceremony

Held at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, the opening ceremony lasted about two hours. Guided by the "Social Good Games" concept, this year's ceremony emphasized low-carbon and sustainable practices. Performances, stage designs and props were streamlined, with greater emphasis on emotional expression.

Delegations entered the stadium in the order of the Japanese kana syllabary. Organizers allocated more time to the athletes' parade, giving competitors from different countries and regions a greater presence in the ceremony.

Team China all set to shine again

China has sent 815 athletes to compete in 38 sports and 369 events. The team is relatively young, with 27% of its athletes born in 2005 or later. Among them, 548 are making their Asian Games debuts, while 306 have previously competed at the Olympic Games or Asian Games, according to the Chinese Olympic Committee.

Basketball player Hu Mingxuan and boxer Wu Yu served as flag bearers for China at the opening ceremony. Wu, who competes in the women's 50-kilogram category, won gold at the 2023 World Boxing Championships and at the Hangzhou Asian Games the same year. Hu helped China's men's basketball team win bronze at Hangzhou and will captain the team at this year's Asian Games.

New sports and Asian favorites this year

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games feature a mix of Olympic staples and sports with strong Asian roots.

Major Olympic events, including athletics, swimming, badminton and boxing, are joined by Asian favorites such as kabaddi, sepak takraw, wushu, kurash and jiu-jitsu.

Several sports and disciplines will also make their Asian Games debuts this year.

Padel and teqball were added to the program in March, bringing the total number of sports from 41 to 43. Surfing will also make its Asian Games debut, with men's and women's shortboard events. 

Joining the debut list are BMX freestyle, a cycling discipline in which riders perform a series of tricks and jumps on specially designed courses, and mixed martial arts (MMA). Virtual taekwondo has also been added to the program for the first time, with one mixed individual event. 

Meanwhile, breaking and esports, which made their official Asian Games debuts at Hangzhou in 2023, will return at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

(Cover: An opening ceremony of the Asian Games is held at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, Nagoya City, Japan, September 19, 2026. /CFP)