Amid teen triumph and organisational chaos, Asian Games close in Japan

Published On 4 Oct 20264 Oct 2026After two weeks of youthful brilliance on the field amid logistical dysfunction and subdued public interest off it, the curtain has come down on the 20th Asian Games in Japan.Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani declared the Games closed at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Sunday, with the torch handed to organisers of the next event in Doha, Qatar, in 2030.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4China swimmer makes Asian Games history as Thai sprinter wins track 100mlist 2 of 4Japan’s Ohashi breaks 200m breaststroke world record at Asian Gameslist 3 of 4‘Unstoppable’ Rumesh revives Sri Lanka’s glory, one javelin throw at a timelist 4 of 4‘It’s our time to shine’: India’s surfers look to make waves at Asian Gamesend of listSome 17,000 athletes and officials came for the Aichi-Nagoya showpiece – more than the participants in the Paris Olympics – with athletes competing in 469 gold-medal events spanning Tokyo to Osaka.A performer carries the Olympic Council of Asia flag on a horse during the closing ceremony [David Gray/AFP]The massive scale clashed with organisers’ planning for a “simple, streamlined and functi...