China and Japan are the only two nations to ever top the medal table at the Asian Games. Japanese athletes dominated the tally in the first eight editions, while their Chinese counterparts have finished first in the nine versions since 1982. Third in the race for overall standings is South Korea. With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics just two years away, who could top the overall medal performance is not the only issue nerve-racking sports officials from these three countries.

China will head to the 2018 Asian Games looking to lead the medal tally for the 10th consecutive time.

Four years ago in Incheon, the Chinese delegation claimed 151 golds, 72 more than host nation South Korea, and a whopping 104 more than Japan. 

"From the Bangkok Game in 1998, to Incheon in 2014, (South) Korea has maintained second place (in the medal standings) for five consecutive times. So the goal of (South) Korea team in these Asian Games (is) also to keep in second place," said Lee Won-Man, deputy editor of Korea’s Sports Chosun. 

The Chinese approach is to test younger athletes at the Asian Games, in the period between stages of the Summer Olympics, as more than half of the country's 1,273-member contingent in Jakarta has no experience at either event.

"The 2018 Asian Games will showcase the Chinese delegation ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. I believe China will continue to dominate the medal board. But as the hosts for Tokyo 2020, Japan will also be looking to test their athletes here, so we are looking at a somewhat tougher challenge this time," said veteran sports journalist Dong Rina from CCTV-5. 

Japan is trying to pave the way for a coming-out party at the 2020 Summer Olympics. South Korea looks to make additional headway in the long-running three-nation tangle. China's aim is to stay on top of the table at the 2018 Asian Games, and further fortify its continental sporting foundation.