Global brand 1xBet recaps the XX Summer Asian Games, held from September 19 to October 4 in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture and its capital, Nagoya.
Changes to competition program
In 2026, more than 10,000 athletes from 46 countries competed for medals across 43 sports – 12 fewer than at the previous Asian Games. The event also featured several new sports making their tournament debut, including BMX freestyle, mixed martial arts, padel, surfing, teqball, and virtual taekwondo.
Chinese dominance
China topped the medal table by a wide margin, once again cementing its status as a sporting superpower. Chinese athletes captured 169 gold, 89 silver, and 83 bronze medals.
Host nation Japan finished second with 83 gold, 95 silver, and 91 bronze medals, while South Korea rounded up the top three with 39 gold, 43 silver, and 68 bronze.
Uzbekistan’s consistency, Kazakhstan’s progress
Uzbekistan finished fifth in the overall medal standings for the third consecutive Asian Games, bringing home 21 gold, 25 silver, and 24 bronze medals. Traditionally, Uzbek athletes dominated in combat sports and boxing.
Kazakhstan finished eighth in gold medals with 12, but ranked fifth overall with 84, trailing only China, Japan, South Korea, and India. Four years ago in Hangzhou, Kazakhstan failed to even reach the top 10.
Team sports results
In the men’s football final, South Korea defeated Japan 1-0. In the bronze medal match, China beat Uzbekistan 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation. The men’s competition at the Asian Games features U23 national teams, and each side may include three over-age players.
The women’s football tournament, meanwhile, features senior teams. In 2026, sides from both Koreas reached the podium. North Korea claimed silver after losing the final to Japan 5-3 on penalties following an action-packed 2-2 regulation draw. South Korea took bronze with a narrow 1-0 victory over China.
South Korea swept both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, beating Japan in each.
In volleyball, Japan reached both finals but lost to Iran in the men’s tournament and China in the women’s.
World records
A total of 54 world records were set during the Games, mostly across swimming, weightlifting, shooting, track and field, and cycling.
Hospitality and innovation
Let’s wrap up the 1xBet review with some overall impressions of the 2026 Asian Games. The Japanese organizers focused on sustainability and minimalism. Most events were held at existing but upgraded venues, while the new Aichi International Arena and Paloma Mizuho Stadium, the Games’ main venue, showcased modern energy-efficient architecture. Guests and athletes also had access to advanced services, including autonomous transportation and real-time AI-powered translation.
Nagoya officially passed the torch to 2030 host city Doha during the closing ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium on October 4.
