China Names 815 Athletes for Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

China officially established its sports delegation for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at a mobilization meeting in Beijing on September 4, according to Xinhua News. The delegation of 1,274 members includes 815 athletes—404 women and 411 men—who will compete in 38 sports and 369 events at the 20th Asian Games, scheduled for September 19 through October 4 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan.

A Delegation Built on Experience and Youth

The squad reflects a deliberate blend of seasoned champions and emerging talent. The average age of athletes is 24, with the oldest member being 41-year-old shooting athlete Wan Antao and the youngest being 12-year-old skateboarder Cao Shiqi. Notably, athletes born after 2005 account for 27 percent of the total roster, signaling a strong emphasis on youth development as China prepares for future Olympic cycles.

According to CCTV Sports, the delegation includes 548 first-time Asian Games participants alongside 306 athletes who have previously competed at the Olympics or Asian Games. The roster also features 58 athletes from 17 different ethnic minority groups, underscoring the breadth of China’s sporting talent pool.

Olympic Champions Lead the Charge

A highlight of the delegation is the presence of 36 Olympic champions across 13 sports, including swimming, artistic swimming, badminton, boxing, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, shooting, and volleyball. Among them, seven athletes have won gold medals at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics: table tennis players Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, divers Chen Yuxi and Wang Zongyuan, gymnast Zou Jingyuan, canoe sprint athlete Sun Mengya, and weightlifter Li Wenwen.

The full delegation roster, published by CCTV News via Tencent, details the complete team structure across all 38 sports, including coaching staff, medical personnel, and support teams for each discipline.

International Staffing and Support

The delegation includes 428 staff members, among them 69 foreign coaches and specialists from 24 countries including Australia, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. This international dimension reflects China’s ongoing commitment to integrating global coaching expertise across its sports programs, as China Youth Daily reported.

The delegation is led by Gao Zhidan, Director of China’s General Administration of Sport, with Xi Hua, Li Jing, and Tong Lixin serving as deputy heads and Zhang Xin as secretary-general.

A Legacy of Asian Games Dominance

China’s participation in the Asian Games dates back to the 7th edition in Tehran in 1974. Since the 9th Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982, China has topped the gold medal table for 11 consecutive editions. At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, China achieved its best-ever result with 201 gold, 111 silver, and 71 bronze medals.

This year’s Games mark Japan’s return to hosting the Asian Games for the first time since Hiroshima in 1994. Approximately 15,000 athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees across Asia are expected to compete for 469 gold medals, as Sohu Sports noted.

Preparation Milestones and Ceremonial Uniform

China’s preparation for the Games has been methodical. Individual sport rosters were announced progressively from June through July 2026, and in late July, the delegation’s ceremonial uniform was unveiled in Shijiazhuang. The “Starlight Ceremonial Uniform,” designed by Chinese sportswear brand JOEONE, features a deep space blue and champagne gold color scheme. The design includes innovative touches such as giving female athletes a choice between wide-leg pants or skirts, as Xinhua reported via Sina.

The torch relay for the Games began on August 22 after the flame was gathered from Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagoya at Nagoya Castle, marking the final countdown to the opening ceremony.

What to Watch For

As the Games approach, all eyes will be on whether China can extend its remarkable streak atop the Asian Games medal table. The blend of veteran Olympic champions and a significant contingent of post-2005 debutants suggests a team positioned for both immediate success and long-term development. The performance of young athletes in particular will offer insights into the next generation of Chinese sporting talent as the nation looks toward future international competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

With the delegation now formally established and the opening ceremony just two weeks away, the stage is set for what promises to be a compelling showcase of Asian athletic excellence in Aichi-Nagoya.