The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 officially opened in Nagoya on Saturday, September 19. For India, the ceremony marked the start of a fortnight of competition, with athletics set to take centre stage from September 23.
The opening ceremony at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium formally marked the start of the 20th Asian Games. Competition in several sports had already begun before the ceremony.
The Games run until October 4. Athletes from 45 countries and regions are competing across 43 sports.
Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 officially open
For Japan, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is the country’s third Asian Games. Tokyo hosted the Games in 1958, followed by Hiroshima in 1994.
The Games carry the slogan “Imagine One Asia”. The opening ceremony followed the theme “Harmonic Heart Beat”.
The theme reflects the organisers’ emphasis on connection and unity through sport.
The ceremony followed a challenging build-up for Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Organisers decided against constructing a conventional athletes’ village.
Instead, the organisers are accommodating athletes in hotels, temporary facilities and a cruise ship. Questions were subsequently raised over accommodation, transport and other Games arrangements.
India’s flag-bearers at opening ceremony
India had its own last-minute drama before the ceremony.
Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat led the Indian contingent as flag-bearers.
Sehrawat replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who had originally been selected alongside Bhaker. Toor could not take part in the ceremony because of an issue involving his official ceremonial kit.
India athletics campaign begins on September 23
For Indian athletics, the opening ceremony is only the starting point.
The Indian athletics team will begin its Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games campaign on September 23. Competition will continue through September 29.
Athletes will compete at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, while race walkers will compete on its designated course.
The Indian athletics contingent features athletes across the full range of track and field events.
The programme includes sprinting, middle- and long-distance running, hurdles, jumps, throws, combined events and race walking.
Avinash Sable will be among the prominent Indian athletes in action. Tejaswin Shankar, Vishal T K, Vithya Ramraj and Unnathi Aiyappa Bolland are also part of India’s athletics programme.
Neeraj Chopra absence adds attention
The absence of Neeraj Chopra will be one of the major talking points around athletics at the Asian Games 2026.
Chopra, who won the men’s javelin gold at the 2018 and 2023 Asian Games, is not competing in Nagoya.
His absence places greater attention on the rest of the Indian athletics team. Athletes will look to convert recent performances into medals on the continental stage.
For some, the Asian Games will be about medals. For others, the focus will be on finals, personal bests, qualification marks or establishing themselves as the next generation of Indian athletics.
Athletics takes centre stage from September 23
The opening ceremony offered the customary spectacle of flags, music, performances and thousands of athletes gathered under one roof.
But athletics is still four days away.
The real test begins on September 23.
The starter will be called to the line. The bar will go up. The throws will begin. The race walkers will settle into their rhythm.
For the Indian athletics team, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will now move from ceremony to competition.