Aichi/Nagoya Asian Games come to an end; Japanese teams win record number of medals

The closing ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was held on the 4th at the main venue, Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi, bringing the curtain down on the 16-day sports festival. The Japanese team won a total of 269 medals (83 gold, 95 silver, 91 bronze). Both the total number and money amount set new records for the same tournament. In terms of country/region, it was second only to China.

Among Japanese swimmers, Shin Ohashi (Hirakata SS) set a new world record in the 200m breaststroke, and also broke many other Japanese records, including those in track and field. The men's table tennis team won the championship for the first time in 60 years, and Japan's softball team achieved its seventh consecutive title. In e-sports, 11-year-old Yuki Kurihara (Tokyo Verdy) made great strides in unique competitions, such as winning "Puyo Puyo e."

Approximately 250 players and coaches from the Japanese national team participated in the closing ceremony. A handover ceremony to Doha, which will host the next Games in 2030, was also held, and the Qatari flag was raised. When the performance ended, the torch was quietly extinguished.

There were notable problems at the tournament, including the mix-up of the national anthem and failure to arrange transport buses. The Most Valuable Players (MVPs) of the tournament were Pripon Boonsong (Thailand), who won two titles in the men's sprint race, and Yu Zidi (China), who won three titles in the women's swim race.

On the 4th, the individual equestrian show jumping event was held at the Baji Park in Tokyo, with Hideken Sato's 4th place being the highest among Japanese athletes.

The Asian Paralympic Games for sports for people with disabilities will be held from the 18th to the 24th.