Prabowo dispatches 430-strong Indonesian contingent to Asian Games

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian team for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, is closely monitoring severe weather and flooding affecting various regions in the country, with the athletes' and officials' safety being their top priority. Malaysian deputy chef de mission Azlan Iskandar stated that his team is in constant communication with the Asian Games organizers in Japan to receive the latest updates on the situation.

The Games are scheduled from September 19 to October 4, and Azlan mentioned that they will continue to receive updates throughout the day, but the circumstances are still too early to make any decisions.

Japan has issued a level five emergency warning, the highest level, due to heavy rain and flooding in Aichi and Gifu prefectures. The Shonai River, which flows through both prefectures, experienced a rise in water levels, prompting authorities to advise residents to evacuate to safer areas. Azlan, a 2010 Asian Games squash gold medalist, emphasized that the team would remain vigilant and gather information before taking any further action.

He also noted that the flooding is an environmental issue caused by rain and that every country is facing similar situations.

Malaysia has set a goal of winning six gold, seven silver, and 20 bronze medals in Japan across 13 sports, including badminton. This target is similar to the haul from the 2018 Hangzhou Games, where Malaysia secured 6 gold, 8 silver, and 18 bronze medals.