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Top Athletes Ready for Asian Games 2026
Confirmed
In Short: Several top athletes, including javelin thrower Pathirage and swimmer Eala, are set to make their mark at the Asian Games in Japan.
The Asian Games 2026, set to open in Nagoya and surrounding areas on September 19, will feature top athletes from across the continent, including javelin thrower Pathirage and swimmer Eala.
Pathirage, a javelin phenom, has been collecting gold medals this year and is poised to break the Asian record of 92.97m set by Arshad Nadeem at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Now 13, swimmer Eala is looking to dominate at her first Asian Games, entered in the 200m IM, 400m IM, and 200m butterfly events, alongside relays.
Eala will compete at the Singapore Open just before the games, but will skip the concurrent Beijing Open, as a gold medal at the Asian Games serves as automatic qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.
Surprisingly, 28-year-old swimmer Zhang is making her Asian Games debut and will look to add continental gold in front of the home crowd after floundering at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Zhang narrowly missed a podium finish in her individual events but found redemption at the Chinese National Swimming Championships later that year with two golds, one silver, and an Asian record in the 200m Individual Medley.
Zhang told local media this month she was “excited” for her Asian Games debut while training with the China team in Beijing.
The Asian Games will see several athletes eyeing first-time podium finishes while others look to defend their crown.
Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa revealed that around 400 athletes and staff who have already arrived in the city were briefly evacuated to higher ground due to record flooding.
News agency AP reported that there were also instances of leaking roofs, but Hirosawa said there was no serious damage to the dozens of Asian Games venues.
The men's and women's cricket teams, who will be aiming for a second successive gold medal at the Games, have been sanctioned a support staff of 20, spearheaded by VVS Laxman for the men's team and Amol Muzumdar for the women's team.
What this adds
The storylines off the field continue to overshadow the on-field storylines, with Sydney Sweeney's controversial nude sports ad being heavily criticized by popular female athletes.
Background
Several top athletes, including javelin thrower Pathirage and swimmer Eala, are set to make their mark at the Asian Games in Japan.
What's confirmed
- The javelin phenom has been collecting gold medals like Pokemon cards this year, and another one at the Asian Games will add to his Diamond League, Commonwealth, and Ultimate Champion crowns.
- Pathirage is eyeing the Asian record of 92.97m set by Arshad Nadeem at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which he is poised to break after becoming the only thrower this season to breach 92m twice.
- Now 13, she is looking to dominate at her first, hopefully of many, Asian Games where she’s entered in the 200m IM, 400m IM and 200m butterfly events, alongside relays.
- Eala will compete at the Singapore Open just before the games, but will skip the concurrent Beijing Open – regardless of whether the WTA decide to punish her – since a gold medal at the Asian Games serves as automatic qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.
- Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa revealed that around 400 athletes and staff who have already arrived in the city were briefly evacuated to higher ground.
- News agency AP reported that there were also instances of leaking roofs, but Hirosawa said there was no serious damage to the dozens of Asian Games venues.
- The Asian Games will open in Nagoya and surrounding areas on September 19 and run until October 4.
What's still developing
- From Olympic champions to teen sensations, several athletes are looking to make their mark at the continental event.
- Asia’s biggest sport stars will descend on Japan this week to battle it out for continental glory as the Asian Games get under way.
- From Olympic champions to teen sensations to breakout stars, Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at some of the top athletes to watch: Tennis’s newest sweetheart will be the favourite for gold in women’s singles.
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