NAGOYA - The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games wrapped up on Sunday as Japan won 83 gold medals, its most ever, while China once again underlined its dominance by taking more than twice as many golds as the host nation.
Medals were contested in 43 sports, including those on the Olympic program and traditional Asian disciplines such as sepaktakraw and kabaddi, with more than 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions taking part.
The Olympic Council of Asia awarded MVP honors to 20-year-old Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson, who won gold in the men's 100 and 200 meters, and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, who captured three titles.
The 16-day continental sporting event saw 54 world records set, according to the OCA, which oversees the games.
During the closing ceremony at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, athletes danced to "Matsuken Samba," performed by veteran actor and singer Ken Matsudaira, as Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko looked on.
"You, the athletes, have sent an inspirational message to the millions of young people across our continent...what matters most is the joy of competition, the bond of friendship, and the pursuit of excellence," OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani said.
Japan fielded its largest-ever delegation of 932 athletes and won a national record 269 medals, including 83 golds. Its gold tally surpassed its previous high of 78 at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok.
China finished comfortably atop the medal standings with 341 medals, including 169 golds, although both figures were down from 383 medals and 201 golds it won as host of the previous Asian Games in 2023.
South Korea placed third with 150 medals, including 39 golds.
Among Japan's gold medalists, Shin Ohashi set a world record of 2 minutes, 4.83 seconds to win the men's 200-meter breaststroke. The 17-year-old served as flag bearer for Japan during the closing ceremony.
Esports, which debuted at the previous games in Hangzhou, also drew attention as 11-year-old Yuki Kurihara won gold in the puzzle category, becoming the youngest champion in Asian Games history.
North Korea sent a delegation and sports minister Kim Il Guk to Japan despite the lack of diplomatic ties between the two countries. It won 29 medals, including seven golds.
Athletes from Iran and Palestine also took part amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Despite the sporting success, the 20th Asian Games were overshadowed by a series of organizational problems, from shuttle bus disruptions and accommodation check-in delays to operational errors such as a mix-up of national anthems.
It also remains unclear whether Japan's third time hosting the Asian Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994, succeeded in capturing widespread public attention at home, with attendance at many venues falling short of expectations.
The event, held mainly in Nagoya and other cities in Aichi Prefecture, will be followed by the Asian Para Games, which run for one week from Oct. 18.
The Asian Games, which began in New Delhi in 1951, will next be staged in Doha in 2030.
