The Asian Games are Asia's largest multi-sport event: a continental championship held every four years in which athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees compete in more than 40 sports. The 20th edition, Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, ended on 4 October 2026 with China on top of the medal table and India fourth with 85 medals, including a clean sweep of six team golds in cricket, kabaddi and hockey.
For India the Asian Games matter more than almost any event outside the Olympics. New Delhi hosted the very first edition in 1951, India is one of only seven teams never to have missed a Games, and the Asiad is where most Indian Olympic hopefuls first learn what it takes to beat the best of China, Japan, South Korea and Iran.
This guide covers the history of the Asian Games, the sports and countries involved, India's complete medal record, what happened at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and what comes next. It is written for students, competitive-exam aspirants and sports fans who want verified facts in one place.
- What: a multi-sport event for Asia, governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
- First Games: New Delhi, India, 4–11 March 1951, with 11 nations and six sports.
- Latest Games: 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, 19 September – 4 October 2026.
- 2026 medal table: China first, Japan second, South Korea third, India fourth.
- India in 2026: 21 gold, 27 silver, 37 bronze = 85 medals.
- Next Games: Doha, Qatar (2030), then Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2034).
- What are the Asian Games?
- History of the Asian Games
- Asian Games 2026
- Where were the 2026 Games held?
- Sports in the Asian Games
- Participating countries
- India at the Asian Games
- India's medal history
- India's best sports
- Famous Indian athletes
- How the medal table works
- Countries that dominate
- Asian Games vs Olympics
- Why the Games matter
- India's Olympic journey
- After 2026: what to expect
- Facts at a glance
- Timeline of all 20 editions
- FAQs
- Sources
How to read the labels in this article: Historical long-settled record · Confirmed official or final result · Reported published by reliable media, may be revised · Outlook expectation, not fact.
What Are the Asian Games?
The Asian Games, also called the Asiad, are a multi-sport competition held every four years for athletes from across Asia. They are organised under the authority of the Olympic Council of Asia and are the second-largest multi-sport event in the world after the Summer Olympics.
- Organising body: the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), headquartered in Kuwait City. The OCA took over from the original Asian Games Federation in the early 1980s.
- Who takes part: the OCA's 45 member National Olympic Committees (NOCs), from Japan in the east to Lebanon in the west.
- Purpose: to raise sporting standards in Asia and build friendship between Asian nations through sport.
- Multi-sport format: Olympic sports such as athletics and swimming sit beside regional sports such as kabaddi, sepaktakraw, wushu and kurash.
- Link to the Olympic movement: the OCA is one of five continental associations of NOCs recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Games follow Olympic rules, and in a few sports they double as Olympic qualifiers.
History of the Asian Games
The Asian Games began in New Delhi in March 1951. The idea grew out of earlier regional meets, notably the Far Eastern Championship Games (1913–1934), and out of a post-war wish among newly independent Asian countries to compete with each other as equals.
HistoricalIndian sports administrator Guru Dutt Sondhi was a leading voice for a continental Games. The Asian Games Federation was formally set up in New Delhi on 13 February 1949, and India agreed to host the first edition. Planned for 1950, it was pushed to 1951 because of delays in preparation.
Eleven nations sent 489 athletes to the first Games, held at what is now the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. They competed in six sports: athletics, aquatics, basketball, cycling, football and weightlifting. Japan finished first and hosts India second.
From 1954 the Games settled into a four-year cycle. Over seven decades they have grown from six sports to more than 40, and from 11 teams to 45.
- 1951 · New Delhi
First Asian Games. Eleven nations, six sports. India wins 15 gold medals and finishes second. - 1958 · Tokyo
The Asian Games torch relay is introduced. - 1974 · Tehran
First Games in West Asia. The People's Republic of China takes part for the first time. - 1982 · New Delhi
India hosts for the second time. China tops the medal table for the first time and has not been displaced since. - 1990 · Beijing
First Games in China. Kabaddi joins the programme as a medal sport. - 1994 · Hiroshima
First Games held outside a national capital. The Central Asian republics make their debut. - 2010 · Guangzhou
Cricket (Twenty20) is played at the Games for the first time. - 2018 · Jakarta–Palembang
First Games shared by two host cities. - 2023 · Hangzhou
The 2022 Games are held a year late because of COVID-19. China wins a record 201 golds; India crosses 100 medals for the first time. - 2026 · Aichi-Nagoya
The 20th Games mark 75 years since New Delhi 1951.
| Year | Host city | Important development |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | New Delhi, India | Inaugural Games: 11 nations, 489 athletes, 6 sports |
| 1958 | Tokyo, Japan | Torch relay introduced |
| 1974 | Tehran, Iran | First Games in West Asia; China's debut |
| 1982 | New Delhi, India | China tops the table for the first time |
| 1990 | Beijing, China | Kabaddi becomes a medal sport |
| 2010 | Guangzhou, China | Cricket debuts |
| 2018 | Jakarta–Palembang, Indonesia | First two-city hosting |
| 2023 | Hangzhou, China | Postponed 2022 edition; China's record 201 golds |
| 2026 | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan | 20th edition; MMA, padel and teqball debut |
Asian Games 2026
The 2026 Asian Games, officially the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, were held in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. Some competitions began earlier, from 10 September. The Games are now complete, so the figures below are results rather than forecasts.
| Item | Aichi-Nagoya 2026 | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 | Confirmed |
| Host country | Japan (third time, after Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994) | Confirmed |
| Host | Aichi Prefecture and its capital, Nagoya | Confirmed |
| Opening ceremony | 19 September 2026, Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya | Confirmed |
| Closing ceremony | 4 October 2026, Paloma Mizuho Stadium | Confirmed |
| Motto | "Imagine One Asia" | Confirmed |
| Mascot | Honohon | Reported |
| Programme | 43 sports, 71 disciplines, 469 events, 1,407 medals | Confirmed |
| New sports | Mixed martial arts, padel and teqball | Reported |
| Athletes | More than 11,000 expected by the OCA; one published count lists 10,787 | Reported |
| India's team | 496 athletes in 36 sports | Reported |
Final medal standings: top four
| Rank | Team | Gold | Total medals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 169 | 341 |
| 2 | Japan (host) | 83 | 269 |
| 3 | South Korea | 39 | 150 |
| 4 | India | 21 | 85 |
ReportedStandings as published by DD News and ANI on 4 October 2026. Medal tables can change later if results are amended after doping or eligibility rulings.
What made these Games different
- No athletes' village. To save money, organisers housed teams in hotels, temporary container-style cabins and a chartered cruise ship, the Costa Serena, docked at Nagoya port.
- Mostly existing venues. Organisers relied largely on arenas that already existed; the main stadium was rebuilt.
- An autumn slot. The Games were scheduled for late September to avoid Japan's summer heat.
- A bumpy start. Reuters and other agencies reported complaints from delegations about accommodation, registration queues and transport in the opening days.
- A historic handover. At the closing ceremony the torch and flag from New Delhi 1951 were carried into the stadium before the OCA flag passed to Doha, host of the 2030 Games.
India at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
ConfirmedIndia won 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals and finished fourth. Shooter Manu Bhaker and kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat carried the flag at the opening ceremony; trap shooter Neeru Dhanda carried it at the close.
- Six team golds from six finals: men's and women's cricket, kabaddi and hockey.
- Women's hockey gold after 44 years: a 1–0 win over China, India's first title since 1982.
- Archery: nine medals, five of them gold, including 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod's individual recurve title.
- Boxing: golds for Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal.
- Wrestling: golds for Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal.
- Golf: Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win individual Asian Games gold.
Where Were the 2026 Asian Games Held?
The 2026 Asian Games were held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, centred on the city of Nagoya. Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city, with more than two million residents, and lies on the Pacific coast of central Honshu between Tokyo and Osaka.
- Main stadium: Paloma Mizuho Stadium (Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium), rebuilt for the Games with about 30,000 seats. It staged both ceremonies and athletics.
- Other venues: spread across cities in Aichi Prefecture, with some events placed in existing facilities elsewhere in Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka. Kabaddi, for example, was played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
- Athlete housing: hotels, temporary cabins and the cruise ship at Kinjo Pier in Nagoya port.
Why Aichi-Nagoya? The OCA awarded the Games to the joint Aichi-Nagoya bid in 2016 by a unanimous decision. Japan offered proven experience: Tokyo hosted the 1958 Asian Games and the 1964 and 2020 Olympics, and Hiroshima hosted the 1994 Asian Games. Aichi is also the country's manufacturing heartland, with strong transport links and existing arenas, which let organisers promise a lower-cost Games.
Sports in the Asian Games
The Asian Games programme combines every core Olympic sport with sports that are popular in particular parts of Asia. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 had 43 sports. The list changes slightly from one edition to the next because each host proposes additions that the OCA must approve.
Athletics
Track and field is the biggest single source of medals and the sport in which India has won most often. Asian athletics is now deep enough that winning times in several events are of world-final standard.
Aquatics
Swimming, diving, artistic swimming and water polo. China and Japan dominate, and the pool often decides which of them wins the first week.
Combat Sports
Boxing, wrestling, judo, taekwondo and karate, plus Asian disciplines such as wushu, kurash and ju-jitsu. Mixed martial arts made its debut in 2026. Central Asian nations, Iran, Japan and India all collect medals here.
Team Sports
Football and basketball have been played since 1951. Hockey, volleyball, handball, rugby sevens, cricket and kabaddi complete the list. Hockey carries extra weight because the Asian Games champions qualify directly for the Olympics.
Racquet Sports
Badminton and table tennis are among the hardest events in world sport to win, because Asia supplies most of the world's top players. Tennis, squash, soft tennis and, from 2026, padel are also contested.
Gymnastics
Artistic, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics. China and Japan are world powers, which makes an Asian Games final close to Olympic level.
Shooting
Rifle, pistol and shotgun events. Shooting has become one of India's most reliable sources of medals, with team events adding to the tally.
Archery
Recurve, the Olympic discipline, and compound. South Korea is the benchmark in recurve; India is among the best in the world in compound.
Cycling
Track, road, mountain bike and BMX events. Japan, China, South Korea and Kazakhstan are usually strongest.
Weightlifting
One of the six original sports of 1951. China and North Korea set the standard, and Asian Games winning totals are frequently close to world records.
Other Sports
Rowing, canoeing, sailing, equestrian, fencing, golf, sport climbing, surfing, sepaktakraw and esports all featured in 2026. Esports became a full medal sport at Hangzhou; the 2026 titles included eFootball and League of Legends.
Participating Countries in the Asian Games
Forty-five National Olympic Committees are members of the OCA and are eligible to take part in the Asian Games. Not all are sovereign states: Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Taipei compete under their own NOCs.
| Region | Participating teams |
|---|---|
| East Asia | China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, Hong Kong (China), Macau (China), Chinese Taipei |
| Southeast Asia | Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam |
| South Asia | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |
| Central Asia | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
| West Asia | Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen |
Regions above are geographic groupings for easy reading, not the OCA's administrative zones.
Participation can vary by edition. A team may be absent because of suspension, politics or cost, and the number of athletes each country may enter is limited by quotas in every sport. In 2026 the OCA also entered a Refugee Team. Only seven teams have competed at every Games since 1951: India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
India at the Asian Games
India has taken part in all 20 Asian Games and has won at least one gold medal at every one of them. It was a founding member of the Asian Games Federation in 1949 and hosted the Games twice, in 1951 and 1982, both times in New Delhi.
HistoricalIndia's first appearance was as host in 1951. The team won 15 gold and 51 medals in all and finished second to Japan, which remains India's highest-ever rank. Swimmer Sachin Nag won the country's first Asian Games gold, and the football team took the title.
The early decades were built on athletics, wrestling and hockey. A long dip followed: at Beijing 1990 India won a single gold, in kabaddi, and finished outside the top ten for the only time.
The recovery since then has been steady. India passed 50 medals at Doha 2006, reached 65 at Guangzhou 2010 and 70 at Jakarta 2018, then jumped to 106 at Hangzhou. Wider talent programmes, foreign coaching and better funding for elite athletes are the usual explanations.
For Indian athletes the Asiad is the main proving ground between Olympics. The opposition in badminton, shooting, wrestling, boxing, archery and weightlifting is close to world level, and medals bring government awards, jobs and funding.
India's Asian Games Medal History
Across 20 editions from 1951 to 2026, India has won 863 Asian Games medals: 204 gold, 265 silver and 394 bronze, going by the edition totals in the table below.
| Edition | Host city | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | New Delhi | 15 | 16 | 20 | 51 | 2 |
| 1954 | Manila | 5 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 5 |
| 1958 | Tokyo | 5 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 7 |
| 1962 | Jakarta | 10 | 13 | 10 | 33 | 3 |
| 1966 | Bangkok | 7 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 5 |
| 1970 | Bangkok | 6 | 9 | 10 | 25 | 5 |
| 1974 | Tehran | 4 | 12 | 12 | 28 | 7 |
| 1978 | Bangkok | 11 | 11 | 6 | 28 | 6 |
| 1982 | New Delhi | 13 | 19 | 25 | 57 | 5 |
| 1986 | Seoul | 5 | 9 | 23 | 37 | 5 |
| 1990 | Beijing | 1 | 8 | 14 | 23 | 11 |
| 1994 | Hiroshima | 4 | 3 | 16 | 23 | 8 |
| 1998 | Bangkok | 7 | 11 | 17 | 35 | 9 |
| 2002 | Busan | 11 | 12 | 13 | 36 | 7 |
| 2006 | Doha | 10 | 17 | 26 | 53 | 8 |
| 2010 | Guangzhou | 14 | 17 | 34 | 65 | 6 |
| 2014 2 | Incheon | 11 | 9 | 37 | 57 | 8 |
| 2018 | Jakarta–Palembang | 16 | 23 | 31 | 70 | 8 |
| 2022 1 | Hangzhou | 28 | 38 | 40 | 106 | 4 |
| 2026 3 | Aichi-Nagoya | 21 | 27 | 37 | 85 | 4 |
| All 20 editions | 204 | 265 | 394 | 863 | – | |
Notes: (1) The Hangzhou 2022 Games were held in 2023. India left with 107 medals; the total was later revised to 106 after a boxing bronze was withdrawn following an anti-doping whereabouts ruling. (2) For Incheon 2014 some records show 11 gold, 10 silver and 36 bronze; the total of 57 is the same. (3) 2026 figures are as reported at the close of the Games. Historical rows were cross-checked against published IOA-based tallies.
What the numbers show
- Home advantage: both New Delhi Games, 1951 and 1982, produced totals well above the editions around them.
- The low point: one gold in 1990 and four in 1994.
- The climb: from 23 medals in 1994 to 106 in the Hangzhou edition, more than a fourfold increase.
- 2026 in context: 85 medals is 21 fewer than Hangzhou, yet it is India's second-highest total and second-highest gold count ever, and it kept India fourth.
India's Best Sports at the Asian Games
Athletics is India's most successful Asian Games sport by a wide margin, followed by shooting, wrestling and boxing. The historical figures below run up to and including Hangzhou.
- Athletics: 283 medals including 85 gold before 2026, and 24 more medals in Aichi-Nagoya, the most of any sport.
- Shooting: 80 medals before 2026, with a record 22 at Hangzhou and 15 in 2026.
- Wrestling: 65 medals before 2026. The six won in 2026, two of them gold, were India's best wrestling return since Jakarta 1962.
- Boxing: 61 medals before 2026. Three golds in 2026 made it India's best Games for boxing titles.
- Kabaddi: India's surest gold. The men have won nine of the ten tournaments held since 1990, and the women four of five since 2010.
- Hockey: five men's golds (1966, 1998, 2014, 2022, 2026) and two women's golds (1982, 2026).
- Archery: a recent strength, with nine medals at each of the last two Games.
- Tennis, squash and rowing: regular medal contributors over several decades.
Badminton, table tennis and weightlifting are harder to describe as strong areas. India did not win a badminton gold until 2022, has only a handful of table tennis medals, and has never won weightlifting gold; Mirabai Chanu's silver in 2026 was her first Asian Games medal.
Famous Indian Athletes in Asian Games History
| Athlete | Sport | Major Asian Games achievement | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| P. T. Usha | Athletics | 11 medals (4 gold, 7 silver), 1982–1994; four golds at Seoul 1986 | India's most decorated Asian Games athlete |
| Milkha Singh | Athletics | Four golds across 1958 and 1962 | Made Indian sprinting a continental force |
| Leander Paes | Tennis | Eight medals, five of them gold, 1990–2006 | One of India's most successful Asian Games athletes |
| Jaspal Rana | Shooting | Eight medals, four gold, 1994–2006 | Led India's rise in pistol shooting |
| Parduman Singh Brar | Athletics | Three golds in shot put and discus, 1954–1958 | India's first great thrower |
| Mary Kom | Boxing | Gold in the women's 51 kg, Incheon 2014 | First Indian woman to win Asian Games boxing gold |
| Neeraj Chopra | Athletics | Javelin gold in 2018 and again at Hangzhou | Went on to become Olympic champion |
| Jyothi Surekha Vennam | Archery | Three golds at Hangzhou | Face of India's compound archery success |
| Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty | Badminton | Men's doubles gold at Hangzhou | India's first Asian Games badminton gold |
| Neeru Dhanda | Shooting | Two golds and a silver in trap, 2026 | First Indian woman to win an individual shotgun gold |
| Kumkum Mohod | Archery | Individual and team recurve gold plus a mixed-team silver, 2026, aged 17 | First Indian to win individual women's recurve gold |
| Lovlina Borgohain | Boxing | Gold in the women's 75 kg, 2026 | Second Indian woman, after Mary Kom, to win boxing gold |
Asian Games Medal Table
The Asian Games medal table ranks teams by gold medals first. If two teams have the same number of golds, the one with more silvers ranks higher; if still level, bronzes decide. Teams that are equal on all three share the same rank.
- Three medals per event: gold for first, silver for second, bronze for third. Combat sports and some racquet sports award two bronzes.
- Why gold comes first: the table follows the convention the IOC uses in its own published tables, which treats winning an event as the primary measure of success.
- Medal count is not rank: a team with many silvers and bronzes can sit below a team with fewer medals but more golds.
The 2026 Games gave a clear example. On 27 September India had 37 medals but only four golds and stood twelfth, behind teams with far fewer medals. Seventeen golds in the final week lifted India to fourth.
The OCA does not declare an official "winner" of the Games; the table is a convenience for the public and the media.
Countries That Have Dominated the Asian Games
China has finished first at every Asian Games since 1982. Before that, Japan topped the table at each of the first eight editions, from 1951 to 1978. South Korea has been a regular third force and has hosted three times.
- China: a state-run system that identifies children early and trains them in specialised sports schools, strong investment in sports science, and deliberate targeting of sports with many medals such as diving, shooting, gymnastics and weightlifting.
- Japan: school and university sport with very wide participation, corporate-backed teams, and long traditions in swimming, judo, wrestling and gymnastics. As host in 2026 Japan won 83 golds, up from 52 in Hangzhou.
- South Korea: a national training centre model and deep expertise in archery, taekwondo, fencing and short-range shooting.
- Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan: smaller teams that concentrate on wrestling, boxing, weightlifting and other combat sports.
- India: now established in the top four, on the back of a large population, growing public funding and private academies in a handful of sports.
Population helps, but it is not enough on its own. The common thread among the leaders is sustained investment in coaching, facilities and grassroots competition over decades.
Asian Games vs Olympics
| Feature | Asian Games | Olympic Games |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic scope | Asia only | Worldwide |
| Organising body | Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) | International Olympic Committee (IOC) |
| Frequency | Every four years, usually midway between Summer Olympics | Every four years |
| Participating teams | 45 NOCs | 206 NOCs |
| Sports | 43 sports and 469 events in 2026, including regional sports | 32 sports and 329 events at Paris 2024 |
| Purpose | Continental championship and regional unity | The global summit of sport |
| Next edition | Doha 2030 | Los Angeles 2028 |
In athlete numbers and events the Asian Games are actually larger than the Olympics. In reach, standard and prestige the Olympics remain well ahead, because every continent competes.
Why Are the Asian Games Important?
For Athletes
An Asian Games medal is a career-defining result. In sports where Asia leads the world, such as badminton, table tennis, weightlifting and archery, it is nearly as hard to win as an Olympic medal.
For Countries
The medal table is a public scorecard for national sports policy. Hosting also drives investment in stadiums, transport and tourism.
For Asian Sports
The Games give kabaddi, sepaktakraw, wushu and kurash a major international stage that the Olympics do not, which helps them grow beyond their home regions.
For Young Athletes
Many competitors are making their first appearance at a multi-sport Games. They learn to handle the travel, the athletes' accommodation, the media and the pressure before they meet all of it again at the Olympics.
For India
The Asiad is the best single measure of how Indian sport is progressing. It rewards breadth: India won medals in 20 different sports in 2026.
For Olympic Preparation
The Games fall two years before each Summer Olympics. That makes them a mid-cycle test of form and, in a few sports, a direct route to qualification.
Asian Games and India's Olympic Journey
An Asian Games medal does not automatically qualify an athlete for the Olympics. Each sport's international federation sets its own qualification system, and only some of them use the Asian Games.
- Where it does count: in hockey, the Asian Games champions earn an Olympic place. Both Indian teams qualified for Los Angeles 2028 by winning gold in 2026. Indian archers were also reported to have secured LA 2028 quota places.
- Where it helps indirectly: in several sports results carry ranking points or count towards qualification standards.
- Experience: athletes face the same Asian rivals they will meet at the Olympics, in a village-style, multi-sport setting.
- Confidence: Neeraj Chopra won Asian Games gold in 2018 before his Olympic title in Tokyo. Aman Sehrawat, an Olympic bronze medallist in 2024, added Asian Games gold in 2026.
The reverse is also true. A medal at the Asiad in a non-Olympic event, such as compound archery before its Olympic debut or kabaddi, says nothing about Olympic prospects.
What to Expect After Asian Games 2026
OutlookThe 2026 Games are over, so the useful question is what they suggest for the next cycle. The points below are expectations based on recent results, not predictions of fact.
- Los Angeles 2028: India's hockey teams have qualified. Based on 2026 form, archery, wrestling, boxing and shooting could again be the sports to watch, though Olympic fields are far deeper.
- Emerging athletes: Kumkum Mohod (17), golfer Pranavi Urs (23) and squash player Anahat Singh are among the younger Indians who may feature for several cycles. Progress will depend on fitness and on results at world level.
- Areas to fix: badminton produced a single bronze, and athletics delivered 24 medals but only one gold. Converting silvers into golds is likely to be the main target.
- The rivals: China's lead looks secure. Japan's host-year surge may ease in 2030, while Uzbekistan, fifth at Hangzhou, and Iran are the teams most likely to challenge for fourth place.
- Doha 2030: the 21st Asian Games return to Qatar, which hosted in 2006. Dates, sports and venues should be treated as subject to change until the OCA and the organisers confirm them.
- Riyadh 2034: Saudi Arabia is due to host for the first time.
Asian Games: Important Facts at a Glance
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| First Asian Games | 4–11 March 1951 |
| First host city | New Delhi, India |
| Organising body | Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Kuwait City |
| Frequency | Every four years |
| Member teams | 45 National Olympic Committees |
| 2026 host | Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan |
| 2026 edition | 20th Asian Games, 19 September – 4 October 2026 |
| 2026 table-toppers | China (169 gold, 341 medals) |
| India's first participation | 1951, as host; finished second |
| India's best total | 106 medals, Hangzhou (2022 edition, held in 2023) |
| India in 2026 | 4th: 21 gold, 27 silver, 37 bronze = 85 |
| Most successful team | China, first at every Games since 1982 |
| Major sports | Athletics, aquatics, shooting, wrestling, boxing, badminton, hockey, kabaddi, archery, weightlifting |
| Next hosts | Doha 2030; Riyadh 2034 |
Asian Games Timeline: All 20 Editions
| No. | Year | Host | Important highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 1951 | New Delhi, India | First Asian Games: 11 nations, six sports |
| II | 1954 | Manila, Philippines | Games move to a four-year cycle |
| III | 1958 | Tokyo, Japan | Torch relay introduced |
| IV | 1962 | Jakarta, Indonesia | India wins football gold |
| V | 1966 | Bangkok, Thailand | India's first men's hockey gold |
| VI | 1970 | Bangkok, Thailand | Bangkok hosts again after Seoul withdraws |
| VII | 1974 | Tehran, Iran | First Games in West Asia; China's debut |
| VIII | 1978 | Bangkok, Thailand | Bangkok steps in for Islamabad |
| IX | 1982 | New Delhi, India | China tops the medal table for the first time |
| X | 1986 | Seoul, South Korea | P. T. Usha wins four golds |
| XI | 1990 | Beijing, China | First Games in China; kabaddi debuts |
| XII | 1994 | Hiroshima, Japan | First host that is not a capital city |
| XIII | 1998 | Bangkok, Thailand | Bangkok hosts for a record fourth time |
| XIV | 2002 | Busan, South Korea | India wins seven athletics golds |
| XV | 2006 | Doha, Qatar | First Games in the Arab world |
| XVI | 2010 | Guangzhou, China | Cricket debuts |
| XVII | 2014 | Incheon, South Korea | India's men win hockey gold after 16 years |
| XVIII | 2018 | Jakarta–Palembang, Indonesia | First two-city Games |
| XIX | 2023* | Hangzhou, China | Held in 2023; China's record 201 golds |
| XX | 2026 | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan | India sweeps six team golds |
| XXI | 2030 | Doha, Qatar | Scheduled; details subject to confirmation |
| XXII | 2034 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Scheduled; details subject to confirmation |
*The 19th Games were the 2022 edition, held from 23 September to 8 October 2023.
Asian Games FAQs
What are the Asian Games?
The Asian Games, also known as the Asiad, are a multi-sport event held every four years for athletes from across Asia. They are governed by the Olympic Council of Asia and recognised by the International Olympic Committee. With more than 40 sports and about 11,000 athletes, they are the largest sporting event in Asia.
When did the Asian Games start?
The Asian Games started in 1951. The first edition was held in New Delhi, India, from 4 to 11 March 1951, with 11 nations competing in six sports. The Games were originally planned for 1950 but were delayed by a year. Since 1954 they have been held every four years.
Who organizes the Asian Games?
The Asian Games are organised under the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which is based in Kuwait City and has 45 member National Olympic Committees. A local organising committee in the host city runs each edition. Before the OCA took over in the early 1980s, the Games were run by the Asian Games Federation.
Where were the 2026 Asian Games held?
The 2026 Asian Games were held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, centred on the city of Nagoya. The main venue was the rebuilt Paloma Mizuho Stadium, which staged the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics. It was the third time Japan hosted the Games, after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
When did the 2026 Asian Games begin and end?
The 20th Asian Games opened on 19 September 2026 and closed on 4 October 2026. Some competitions started earlier, from 10 September, before the opening ceremony. The competition programme covered 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 medal events over 16 official days.
How many countries participate in the Asian Games?
Forty-five National Olympic Committees are members of the Olympic Council of Asia and can take part in the Asian Games. This includes territories such as Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Taipei, which compete separately. The exact number at each edition can vary; in 2026 a Refugee Team also competed.
How often are the Asian Games held?
The Asian Games are held every four years, usually in the even-numbered year midway between two Summer Olympics. The one exception was the 2022 edition in Hangzhou, China, which was postponed because of COVID-19 and held in 2023. The next Games are scheduled for Doha in 2030.
Which country has won the most Asian Games medals?
China is the most successful team in Asian Games history and has finished first on the medal table at every edition since 1982. Japan topped the table at the first eight Games, from 1951 to 1978. At the 2026 Games China won 169 golds and 341 medals, ahead of Japan and South Korea.
How many medals has India won in the Asian Games?
India has won 863 medals across the 20 Asian Games held from 1951 to 2026: 204 gold, 265 silver and 394 bronze, based on edition-by-edition totals. India's best single Games was the Hangzhou edition, with 106 medals including 28 gold. India has won at least one gold at every Asian Games.
How many medals did India win at the 2026 Asian Games?
India won 85 medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya: 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. India finished fourth on the medal table behind China, Japan and South Korea. Six of the golds came from winning both the men's and women's titles in cricket, kabaddi and hockey.
Which Indian sport has performed best at the Asian Games?
Athletics is India's most successful Asian Games sport, with 283 medals including 85 gold up to the Hangzhou edition and 24 more in 2026. Shooting, wrestling and boxing follow. Kabaddi is India's most dominant team sport: the men's team has won nine of the ten tournaments since 1990.
Is cricket included in the Asian Games?
Yes. Cricket is played in the Twenty20 format and first appeared at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010. It was also held in 2014, at Hangzhou and in 2026. India won both the men's and women's gold medals at Hangzhou and retained both titles at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Is the Asian Games bigger than the Olympics?
In size, yes. The 2026 Asian Games had 43 sports, 469 events and about 11,000 athletes, compared with 32 sports and 329 events at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In global reach and prestige the Olympics are bigger, because 206 National Olympic Committees from every continent take part.
What sports are played in the Asian Games?
The Asian Games include all the main Olympic sports, such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, shooting, archery, badminton, hockey and football. They also include sports popular in Asia, such as kabaddi, sepaktakraw, wushu, kurash, cricket and squash. Mixed martial arts, padel and teqball were added in 2026.
Who can participate in the Asian Games?
Athletes must be selected and entered by their National Olympic Committee, which must be a member of the Olympic Council of Asia. They must also meet the eligibility rules of the relevant international sports federation, anti-doping rules and any qualification standards or entry quotas set for their sport at that edition.
Why are the Asian Games important for India?
The Asian Games are India's biggest test between Olympics. They show how Indian athletes compare with strong Asian rivals, give younger athletes experience of a multi-sport event, and in sports such as hockey offer direct Olympic qualification. Medals also bring recognition, government awards and funding for athletes and their sports.
Where will the next Asian Games be held?
The next Asian Games, the 21st edition, are scheduled for Doha, Qatar, in 2030. Doha previously hosted in 2006. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is due to host in 2034. Exact dates, sports and venues for both Games should be checked with the Olympic Council of Asia as they are confirmed.
Editorial Note
This article was compiled from official bodies, India's public broadcasters and established news agencies, and was fact-checked on 7 October 2026. Historical tallies were cross-checked across more than one source, and where sources disagree the difference is stated.
Sporting information changes. Medal tables can be revised after doping or eligibility decisions, and schedules, athlete participation and host details for future Games may change. Please confirm anything time-sensitive with the Olympic Council of Asia, the organising committee or the Indian Olympic Association before relying on it.
Sources & References
- Olympic Council of Asia – governing body, member NOCs and Games information.
- OCA: Refugee Team to compete in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya.
- Aichi-Nagoya 2026 organising committee – official Games website.
- Olympics.com (IOC): Asian Games 2026 competition schedule.
- Olympics.com (IOC): India's Asian Games 2026 squad.
- Olympics.com (IOC): India at the Asian Games, history and medals.
- Indian Olympic Association.
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India – contingent sanction orders.
- DD News: India signs off with 85 medals (4 October 2026) – final tally and sport-by-sport results.
- ANI: India signs off with 85-medal haul (4 October 2026).
- All India Radio News: relay and trap golds (29 September 2026).
- Qatar Tribune: OCA marks one month to go – programme size and motto.
- The National (with Reuters): opening ceremony report (19 September 2026).
- Open magazine: closing ceremony and final standings (4 October 2026).
- Hockey India – squads and results.
- Wikipedia: India at the Asian Games – used only to cross-check edition-by-edition tallies, which it draws from IOA records.
Last fact-checked: 7 October 2026.
0 Comments