The 2026 Asian Games are set to bring many of Asia’s biggest sporting names together when competition begins in Japan on Sept 19.
Hosted across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, with events also taking place in cities including Tokyo and Osaka, the 20th edition of the continental multi-sport event will feature about 17,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions.
The Games will feature 469 medal events across 43 sports, with Olympic champions, world champions, record holders and rising stars among the competitors.
Here are some of the athletes expected to attract attention in Aichi-Nagoya.
Pan Zhanle, China — Swimming
China’s Pan Zhanle arrives as the world-record holder in the men’s 100m freestyle. He set the record of 46.40 seconds while winning Olympic gold in Paris, where he also helped China win gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay.
Pan also enjoyed a strong Asian Games debut at Hangzhou 2022, winning seven medals, including three golds.
Carlos Yulo, Philippines — Gymnastics
Carlos Yulo heads to Japan as a double Olympic champion after winning gold in the men’s floor exercise and vault at Paris 2024.
He became the first Filipino male athlete to win an Olympic gold medal and has also collected six World Championship medals, including world titles on floor and vault.
His return to the Asian Games gives him another opportunity to add a continental title to his growing international record.
Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan — Javelin
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem remains one of the leading names in men’s javelin after his historic Olympic victory in Paris.
His winning throw of 92.97 metres set an Olympic record and earned Pakistan its first Olympic gold medal in athletics. He also won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Nadeem will face a strong field in Japan, including Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who recently rose to world No. 1 after winning the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
An Se-young, South Korea — Badminton
An Se-young enters the Games as the world’s No. 1 women’s singles player and the reigning Olympic and world champion.
She won Olympic gold in Paris before adding another world title in 2026. Her movement, defence and consistency have established her as one of the leading figures in women’s badminton.
With South Korea among the sport’s major powers, An will be one of the athletes to watch in the individual competition.
Haruka Kitaguchi, Japan — Javelin
Haruka Kitaguchi will compete at a home Asian Games as the reigning Olympic and world champion in women’s javelin.
She won the 2023 World Championships before claiming Olympic gold at Paris 2024. She has also entered the Games in strong recent form.
On Sept 12, Kitaguchi threw 68.92 metres at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, breaking her own Japanese record.
EJ Obiena, Philippines — Pole Vault
EJ Obiena returns to the Asian Games as the defending men’s pole vault champion.
He won gold at Hangzhou 2022 after clearing 5.90 metres, setting an Asian Games record in the process.
Since then, Obiena has become the first Asian vaulter to clear six metres in competition, further establishing himself among the world’s leading athletes in the event.
Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah, India — Cricket
India’s men’s T20 squad combines established international players with younger talent, with Shreyas Iyer named captain and Jasprit Bumrah included among the team’s fast-bowling options.
India won the men’s T20 gold medal when cricket returned to the Asian Games at Hangzhou 2022. The team therefore enters Aichi-Nagoya as the defending champion.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India — Cricket
Harmanpreet Kaur will captain India’s women’s T20 team as it attempts to defend the title won at Hangzhou 2022.
Smriti Mandhana has been named vice-captain, while Kaur brings extensive international experience to a team returning to the continental stage as defending champion.
Alexandra Eala, Philippines — Tennis
Alexandra Eala arrives in Aichi-Nagoya after a significant rise on the professional tennis circuit.
She is currently ranked No. 18 in the women’s singles rankings and has confirmed her decision to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games despite a scheduling clash with the China Open.
Eala already has Asian Games experience, having won bronze medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles at Hangzhou 2022.
With Olympic champions, established world-class competitors and emerging stars competing across dozens of sports, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is set to provide another major stage for Asia’s leading athletes.
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