Asian Games: Japan hosts for 1st time in 32 yrs, aims for record golds

Japan will host the Asian Games for the first time in 32 years, from September 19 to October 4, with the goal of surpassing its previous record of 78 gold medals. Around 930 athletes will represent the country, competing in 43 sports primarily in Aichi Prefecture. This marks Japan's third time hosting the games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.

Women's wrestling gold medalist Akari Fujinami from Mie Prefecture aims to continue her winning streak, while Haruka Kitaguchi, the javelin gold medalist from Paris, prepares for the continental title. Rachid Muratake seeks to win the men's 110-meter hurdle, having finished fifth in Paris and at the world championships in Tokyo.

Tomoyuki Matsushita, the silver medalist in the men's 400-meter individual medley from Paris, will join 17-year-old Shin Ohashi in the pool, who is competing in three breaststroke events. Kanoa Igarashi, the men's surfing silver medalist from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, aims to secure a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Games with a gold medal.

Japan is targeting gold medals in football, volleyball, and softball. Esports, which officially joined the Asian Games program in the previous edition, will also be part of the events. The torch relay will begin in Tokyo on Tuesday and Hiroshima on Thursday, before combining in Nagoya on Saturday to officially launch the Asian Games.