China Names 815 Athletes for Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
China officially established its delegation for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at a formation and mobilization meeting in Beijing on Friday, unveiling a 1,274-member contingent that includes 815 athletes set to compete across 38 sports and 369 events. The Games, scheduled for September 19 to October 4 in Japan, mark the 20th edition of Asia’s largest multi-sport event.
A Squad Built for Dominance
The delegation features 36 Olympic champions from 13 sports, including swimming, artistic swimming, badminton, boxing, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, shooting, and volleyball, according to Xinhua. Seven athletes who claimed gold at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics will compete, including table tennis stars Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, divers Chen Yuxi and Wang Zongyuan, gymnast Zou Jingyuan, canoe sprint specialist Sun Mengya, and weightlifter Li Wenwen.
The squad has an average age of 24, with athletes born after 2005 comprising 27 percent of the roster. The youngest competitor is 12-year-old skateboarder Cao Shiqi, while the oldest is 41-year-old shooter Wan Antao. Notably, 548 athletes will make their Asian Games debut, while 306 have previous Olympic or Asian Games experience. The delegation also includes 58 athletes from 17 ethnic minority groups.
Aiming for a 12th Consecutive Title
China has topped both the gold medal and overall medal tables at 11 consecutive Asian Games editions since 1982, and the country is seeking to extend that streak in Aichi-Nagoya. At the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games held in 2023, China delivered a record-breaking performance with 201 gold medals and 383 medals overall, as Sportstar reported.
“Since 1982, China has topped both the gold medal and overall medal tables at 11 consecutive Asian Games editions,” said Gao Zhidan, director of China’s General Administration of Sport and chef de mission of the delegation. “China will strive to maintain its leading position at the Games.”
Diver Wang Zongyuan, speaking on behalf of the athletes, emphasized the significance of the competition: “The Asian Games represents the highest-level comprehensive sporting event in Asia and serves as a genuine test of our preparation. We will showcase China’s standard and strength on the regional and global stage.”
A Historic Edition in Japan
The 2026 Games represent Japan’s third time hosting the Asian Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. The event will bring together more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials from 45 countries and regions, featuring 43 sports and 71 disciplines with 1,407 medals awarded across 469 events, according to the Olympic Council of Asia.
The Games will be held under the official motto “Imagine One Asia,” supported by 10,200 volunteers and covered by 5,300 accredited media representatives. The torch relay began on August 22 at Nagoya Castle, with three-time Olympic wrestling champion Saori Yoshida carrying the flame on its opening leg, as China Daily reported.
OCA President H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani expressed confidence in Japan’s hosting capabilities: “Japan has a world-class track record in hosting major sporting events and I have no doubt that Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will set a benchmark for future editions - empowering our youth and inspiring the next generation of Asian sport.”
International Expertise and Forward Look
The delegation includes 69 overseas specialists from 24 countries and regions, including Australia, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Britain, reflecting China’s commitment to integrating international coaching expertise into its preparation. The Opening Ceremony will take place at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on September 19, with competition running through October 4.
As the countdown to the Games enters its final phase, all eyes will be on whether China can maintain its unprecedented run of continental dominance. With a blend of seasoned Olympic champions and promising young talent, the delegation appears well-positioned to continue that legacy - though Japan, South Korea, and other Asian sporting powers will be eager to challenge China’s supremacy on home soil.