Qatar leave Nagoya with 18 medals as Asian Games Flag begins journey to Doha 2030

The 2026 Asian Games concluded in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, after over two weeks of competition. According to Doha News, the Asian Games flag was formally handed over to Qatar, marking the beginning of preparations for the 2030 Games in Doha.

The UAE achieved its best Asian Games performance, finishing 13th among 45 nations with a record seven gold medals, as reported by The National UAE and The National Business. The country's 165-strong contingent won a total of 13 medals, including five silver and one bronze. Standout performers included Mariam Kareem, who won gold in the women's 400m hurdles and set a new Asian Under-20 record, and Sheikha Latifah bint Ahmed bin Juma Al Maktoum, who equalled the record for the most medals won by a female equestrian in Asian Games history.

China topped the medals tally with 341 medals, including 169 gold, according to The Indian Express. This marked China's 12th consecutive edition as the top nation in the Asian Games since 1982. However, China's medal haul was 42 short of their total from the previous Games in Hangzhou. Japan finished second, increasing their gold medal count by 31 and their total medal tally by 81 compared to the previous Games.

Brief written by urgent.news from Doha News, The National UAE, The National Business, The Indian Express — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.