Asian Games 2026: Stars to Watch and Key Storylines in Japan

Asia’s top sports stars have arrived in Japan to compete for continental glory as the Asian Games officially begin. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 features athletes aiming for their first podium finishes alongside reigning champions defending their titles. This edition introduces six new sports, with several gold medals offering automatic qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics. Al Jazeera Sport highlights the standout competitors to watch:

Alex Eala, Philippines — tennis
As tennis's newest standout, Eala enters as the favorite for the women’s singles gold. The 21-year-old Filipino athlete is coming off a stellar season featuring her first WTA 1000 title and a third-round appearance at the US Open. Eala will skip the Beijing Open to focus on the Asian Games, where a gold medal secures an automatic spot at the LA 2028 Olympics. With defending champion Zheng Qinwen and former world number one Naomi Osaka absent from the tournament, Eala has a prime opportunity to upgrade her 2022 bronze to gold.

Rumesh Pathirage, Sri Lanka — javelin
The javelin standout has accumulated numerous titles this year, adding to his Diamond League, Commonwealth, and Ultimate Champion crowns. With his closest rival, India’s Neeraj Chopra, withdrawing due to injury, Pathirage is heavily favored for gold. He is also targeting the Asian record of 92.97m set by Arshad Nadeem at the Paris 2024 Olympics, having already thrown past 92m twice this season. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Nadeem is struggling with fitness after a series of subpar throws.

Haruka Kitaguchi, Japan — javelin
Competing on home soil, Kitaguchi aims for gold in the women’s javelin following her victory at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest. Her 68.92m throw established a new national record, ranking her second-best this season globally. The 28-year-old is making her Asian Games debut in front of home supporters.

Yan Ziyi, China — javelin
World number one Yan Ziyi is another major contender in the javelin event. The Chinese teenager became the sixth woman in history to surpass the 70m mark with a 71.74m throw, setting a new Asian and World Under-20 record. Although she finished second to Kitaguchi at the Ultimate Championship after withdrawing due to injury, a full recovery could see her challenge for the top spot.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India — cricket
As India defends its men’s cricket title, attention is on 15-year-old Sooryavanshi. The left-handed batter is recognized as a generational talent, having set records as the highest scorer in this year’s Indian Premier League and serving as India’s youngest men’s player.

Pan Zhanle, China — swimming
The Olympic champion returns to the venue where he previously swam under 47 seconds in the men’s 100m freestyle, becoming the first Asian male to achieve the feat. At the Hangzhou 2022 games on home soil, he secured silver in the 200m and 400m freestyle, bronze in the 50m, and gold in both the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay.

Yu Zidi, China — swimming
At just 12 years old, Yu became the youngest-ever medallist at the 2025 World Swimming Championships. Now 13, the Chinese prodigy enters her first Asian Games competing in the 200m individual medley, 400m IM, 200m butterfly, and relay events.