Inside Asia’s biggest sporting spectacle in Nagoya

The 20th Asian Games kicked off in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday, bringing together an impressive 17,000 athletes and officials, including Olympic and world champions. The Games, held every four years, will run until October 4 and feature a wide array of sports, including 43 disciplines across two weeks.

Nagoya, the fourth-largest city in Japan with over two million residents, serves as the main hub for the event. The Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, with a capacity of 30,000, will host athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies.

While swimming, one of the most anticipated events, takes place in Tokyo 350 kilometers (200 miles) away, Nagoya will be the epicenter of the Games. Alongside athletics and swimming, other major highlights include badminton, boxing, cricket, football, golf, gymnastics, table tennis, tennis, and weightlifting.

To appeal to younger audiences, eSports, break dancing, and BMX biking will also be featured. New sports debuting at the Asian Games include padel, MMA, and teqball. Regional sports like kurash, kabaddi, and wushu will also make their mark.

With over 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials from 45 countries and territories competing, the Asian Games surpass the size of the Olympics. China topped the medals table at the previous Games in 2023, followed by Japan, South Korea, India, and Uzbekistan. Iran and North Korea also performed well, with Syria and Palestine at the bottom of the rankings.

Notable athletes to watch include Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who sparked controversy by winning gold at the Paris Olympics, Indian cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and 12-year-old Chinese swimming star Yu Zidi. Other rising stars include the Philippines' Alexandra Eala, a tennis hopeful, and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who won a gold medal in the javelin at the Paris Olympics.

To cut costs, Japan has skipped building a dedicated athletes' village, opting instead for competitors to stay in hotels or on a cruise liner named the Costa Serena, which can accommodate up to 4,000 people. The ship promises to be an unforgettable experience, though organizers and athletes alike hope for calm weather conditions, as September-October is typhoon season in Japan.