AICHI-NAGOYA, Japan — The 20th Asian Games closed on Sunday after a fortnight marked by standout performances from young athletes but also logistical challenges and subdued public interest.
Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani declared the Games closed at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, with the torch handed to organisers of the next edition in Doha in 2030.
About 17,000 athletes and officials attended the Aichi-Nagoya Games, more than at the Paris Olympics, competing in 469 gold-medal events held across venues from Tokyo to Osaka.
The Games were highlighted by performances from a new generation of athletes, led by China’s 13-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi.
Yu was named the female Most Valuable Player of the Games after winning three individual gold medals in the Tokyo pool, strengthening expectations that she could be a leading figure at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
She also recorded the second-fastest time in the women’s 200 metres individual medley, setting up a potential rivalry with Canada’s world-record holder Summer McIntosh.
The Games brought together athletes from across Asia over the past two weeks, with competition spread across multiple venues in Japan before the closing ceremony formally ended the event.
