20th Asian Games 2026: Complete Current Affairs Notes for PSC, SSC & Bank Exams

The 20th Asian Games 2026, officially known as the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026. The Games feature 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 medal events, with athletes from 45 countries and regions competing. India is participating across multiple sports, making the event an important source of current affairs and sports GK for PSC, SSC, Bank and other competitive examinations.

Asian Games 2026 – Quick Overview

The 20th Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026. The competition programme covers 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 events, with participation from 45 countries and regions. The official mascot is HONOHON, while “Imagine One Asia” is the Games slogan.

Asian Games 2026 Venue and Host Details

The 20th Asian Games 2026 are being hosted by Japan, with competitions taking place across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya. The Games are scheduled from 19 September to 4 October 2026, with Nagoya serving as the main centre for the event.

The opening and closing ceremonies are being held at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The opening ceremony took place on 19 September 2026, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for 4 October 2026. The stadium is also being used for athletics competitions.

Japan’s Asian Games Hosting History

The 2026 edition marks the third time Japan has hosted the Asian Games. Japan previously hosted the event in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. Therefore, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 marks Japan’s return as host after a gap of 32 years.

New Sports Introduced at Asian Games 2026

The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 programme features 43 sports. Several newer disciplines are included in this edition, adding variety to the Asian Games programme.

• Teqball: A football-based sport played on a curved table. It combines elements of football, table tennis and freestyle skills. Teqball and padel were officially added to the 2026 Asian Games programme.
• Padel: A racket sport that combines features of tennis and squash. It is generally played in doubles on an enclosed court.
• Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): A combat sport combining techniques such as striking, grappling, throwing and submissions.
• Esports: Esports continues as a medal sport, with 13 titles across 11 events scheduled for Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
• Sport Climbing: Athletes compete in disciplines including speed, bouldering and lead climbing.
• Skateboarding: The programme includes men’s and women’s park and street events.
• Surfing: Men’s and women’s shortboard events are included in the competition programme.

India at Asian Games 2026

India is participating in the 20th Asian Games with a large contingent across several sporting disciplines. The Indian campaign includes established Olympic and Asian Games medallists as well as athletes competing in newer events on the Aichi-Nagoya programme.

Indian Contingent Size and Sports

The final Indian contingent for the Asian Games 2026 consists of 503 athletes, comprising 269 men and 234 women. The athletes are competing across 36 sports disciplines. The contingent was initially approved with 492 athletes, but the final number increased after additional selections in sports including athletics, surfing and mixed martial arts.

The Indian contingent is supported by 265 officials and support staff, including coaches, support staff and Indian Olympic Association officials.

India’s Medal Tally

India’s medal tally is being updated throughout the Asian Games. As of September 29, 2026, India has won 48 medals, comprising 5 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze medals. India is currently placed 12th in the overall medal standings.

Note: The medal tally is live and may change as more events are completed.

Full List of Indian Medal Winners

The following list records India’s medal winners and medal-winning teams as confirmed so far.

The early medals came mainly from shooting, athletics, cricket, weightlifting, wushu, rowing, badminton and MMA, while India has added medals in kabaddi, squash, table tennis, soft tennis and kurash during the ongoing Games. The medal-winning records are being updated as events conclude.

Historic Firsts for India

The Aichi-Nagoya Games have produced several notable milestones for Indian sport.

• Suchika Tariyal created history by becoming India’s first Asian Games medallist in Mixed Martial Arts. She won bronze in the women’s traditional 60kg category.
• India’s women’s cricket team won the gold medal in women’s T20 cricket, defeating Sri Lanka in the final. This gave India its first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games.
• Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win Asian Games gold in the individual women’s trap shooting event. She also won silver in the women’s team trap event with Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat.

Asian Games 2026 Overall Medal Table

The Asian Games medal table ranks participating countries based on the number of medals won. Gold medals are considered first, followed by silver and then bronze medals when countries have the same number of gold medals.

India’s Performance: Asian Games 2022 vs 2026

India made history at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, winning 107 medals in total, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals. India finished fourth in the overall medal standings.

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya gives India an opportunity to build on that performance. The comparison below highlights India’s medal tally in the two editions. The 2026 figures should be treated as the current tally if the Games are still in progress.

In 2022, India crossed the 100-medal mark for the first time at the Asian Games, with medals coming across several sports. By September 26, 2026, India’s tally had reached 48 medals, according to the figures provided for this comparison, with strong contributions from shooting, athletics, squash, kabaddi and other disciplines.

Note: The 2026 Asian Games are currently underway, so the 2026 medal tally and final ranking may change.

Asian Games History at a Glance

The Asian Games are the largest multi-sport event in Asia. The first edition was held in New Delhi, India, in 1951, with athletes from 11 countries competing. The Games are now governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which was established as the successor to the Asian Games Federation.

The OCA has its permanent headquarters in Kuwait. The organisation replaced the Asian Games Federation, which had been formed in New Delhi in 1949.

The motto of the Asian Games is “Ever Onward.” The next edition after Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will be held in Doha, Qatar, in 2030. The OCA selected Doha as the host of the 21st Asian Games in December 2020.

Important Asian Games 2026 Questions for Competitive Exams

The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026. The 20th edition features 43 sports and 71 disciplines, with athletes from 45 countries and regions competing. The questions below cover important current-affairs facts, Indian medal winners, venues, sports and key records relevant to competitive exams.

Asian Games 2026 GK Questions and Answers

1. Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
   Answer: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
2. When are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
   Answer: September 19 to October 4, 2026.
3. Which edition of the Asian Games is being held in 2026?
   Answer: The 20th edition.
4. How many sports are included in the Asian Games 2026?
   Answer: 43 sports.
5. What is the official motto of the Asian Games 2026?
   Answer: Imagine One Asia.
6. Which country is hosting the Asian Games 2026?
   Answer: Japan.
7. How many countries and regions are participating in the Asian Games 2026?
   Answer: 45 countries and regions.
8. Which Indian shooter won gold in women’s individual trap at the Asian Games 2026?
   Answer: Neeru Dhanda.
9. Which Indian athlete won silver in the men’s 10,000m at the Asian Games 2026?
   Answer: Gulveer Singh.
10. Which Indian weightlifter won silver in the women’s 49kg category?
    Answer: Mirabai Chanu.
11. Which Indian athlete won silver in the men’s long jump at the Asian Games 2026?
    Answer: Murali Sreeshankar.
12. Which Indian athlete won silver in the men’s javelin throw?
    Answer: Yash Vir Singh.
13. Which Indian athlete won bronze in the men’s javelin throw?
    Answer: Rohit Yadav.
14. Which city hosted the previous Asian Games in 2022?
    Answer: Hangzhou, China.
15. Which city is scheduled to host the Asian Games after Aichi-Nagoya 2026?
    Answer: Doha, Qatar, in 2030.

Asian Games 2026 MCQs

1. The Asian Games 2026 are being held in which country?

a) China
b) Japan
c) South Korea
d) Thailand

Answer: b) Japan

2. Which Indian shooter won the women’s individual trap gold medal at the Asian Games 2026?

a) Elavenil Valarivan
b) Esha Singh
c) Neeru Dhanda
d) Suruchi Singh

Answer: c) Neeru Dhanda

3. What is the official motto of the Asian Games 2026?

a) Ever Onward
b) One Asia, One Dream
c) Imagine One Asia
d) Together We Rise

Answer: c) Imagine One Asia

4. Which Indian athlete won silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the Asian Games 2026?

a) Mirabai Chanu
b) Karnam Malleswari
c) Saikhom Mirabai
d) Bindyarani Devi

Answer: a) Mirabai Chanu

5. Where are the 2030 Asian Games scheduled to be held?

a) Riyadh
b) Doha
c) Abu Dhabi
d) Muscat

Answer: b) Doha

Conclusion

The Asian Games 2026 bring together important sports, athletes, records and current affairs topics. For competitive exam aspirants, these updates can be useful for questions in General Knowledge and Current Affairs sections. Regular revision and mock-test practice can help you retain important facts and improve exam readiness.

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