The 20th Asian Games came to a glittering close on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on more than two weeks of sporting action in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as Qatar received the flag for the next edition in Doha in 2030. Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani officially declared the Games closed at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, marking the end of a sporting spectacle that celebrated Asia’s athletic excellence.Thousands of athletes, officials and spectators gathered for the closing ceremony, which carried the theme ‘One Asia’. The proceedings also featured the formal handover to Qatari representatives, with Doha preparing to host the continent’s premier multi-sport event four years from now.India’s Neeru Dhanda, who enjoyed a memorable campaign with two gold medals and a silver in shooting, carried the national flag at the ceremony, capping a landmark outing for the Indian contingent.
India finishes fourth with 85 medals
India signed off with 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — to finish fourth in the overall standings, behind China, Japan and South Korea.The campaign featured significant performances across shooting, athletics, boxing, hockey and other disciplines, underlining India’s growing depth across sports. Neeru’s outstanding haul was among the highlights, while India’s gold-medal-winning hockey campaigns secured qualifications for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.India’s performance also continued a broader trend of consistent medal hauls at recent Asian Games, following the historic 100-medal milestone at Hangzhou 2023. The Aichi-Nagoya edition offered further evidence of the country’s expanding presence across the continental sporting landscape, even as the final tally fell short of the previous edition’s overall medal count.
India’s flag bearer Neeru Dhanda and others during the closing ceremony. (PTI Photo)
Doha receives the baton for 2030
The closing ceremony formally shifted attention to the next host city, with Doha set to welcome Asia’s sporting community in 2030. The handover marked the beginning of preparations for Qatar’s second Asian Games, following its hosting of the event in 2006.The Aichi-Nagoya Games featured 469 gold-medal events across a record programme of 43 sports, with around 17,000 athletes and officials participating. Several disciplines, including padel, mixed martial arts, teqball and surfing, made their Asian Games debuts, reflecting the event’s evolving sporting landscape.China dominated the standings with 169 gold medals among 341 medals overall, recording its best gold-medal haul at an Asian Games held outside its home territory. Hosts Japan finished second with 83 golds and 269 medals, surpassing their previous gold-medal record at Hiroshima 1994.
Qatar equestrian athlete Jassim Al Kuwari rides with the Olympic Council of Asia flag during the closing ceremony. (AP Photo)
Sporting brilliance amid organisational challenges
Despite the on-field excitement, the Games faced criticism over accommodation and transport arrangements. Organisers opted against building a dedicated athletes’ village, instead using hotels, modular accommodation and a cruise ship to house participants.Registration delays, room-allocation problems and unreliable shuttle services affected several delegations, while diplomatic and ceremonial mix-ups added to the difficulties. Attendance was also subdued at several venues, with accessibility issues contributing to disappointing crowds.Nevertheless, the competition produced several remarkable individual performances, led by China’s teenage swimming sensation Yu Zidi and seven-gold winner Zhang Zhanshuo, alongside standout displays in athletics and other disciplines.As Aichi-Nagoya handed over the baton to Doha, the Games closed with a celebration of sporting achievement, even as the organisational shortcomings offered important lessons for the next edition.