d a cruise ship as part of a cost-saving approach. However, the arrangements struggled to cope with the number of participants.
Some athletes reportedly waited for up to 12 hours to complete registration, while others encountered double-booked rooms or accommodation assigned to the wrong teammates.
Transport problems also affected several teams. Shuttle buses reportedly failed to arrive, while some took athletes to incorrect venues, resulting in delays to competitions.
Organisers issued repeated apologies as complaints continued throughout the event.
Young Athletes Become the Stars
Despite the organisational problems, the sporting action produced several standout performances, particularly from a new generation of athletes.
China’s 13-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi was among the biggest stars. She won three individual gold medals and was named the female Most Valuable Player of the Games.
Yu also recorded the second-fastest time in the women’s 200m individual medley, setting the stage for a potential future rivalry with Canada’s world-record holder Summer McIntosh.
Her Chinese teammate Zhang Zhanshuo, 19, created history by becoming the first swimmer to win seven gold medals at a single Asian Games.
Japan’s 17-year-old Shin Ohashi also made headlines after breaking the world record in the men’s 200m breaststroke.
Athletics Produces More Teenage Standouts
Young talent also dominated the athletics programme.
China’s 18-year-old Yan Ziyi produced a world-class performance to win gold in the women’s javelin. Meanwhile, Thailand’s 20-year-old Puripol Boonson won both the men’s 100m and 200m titles and was named the men’s MVP.
Their performances highlighted the growing strength of Asia’s younger generation of athletes.
Japan Faces Low Spectator Turnout
While the Games attracted significant attention from sports fans across Asia, attendance at some venues was disappointing.
Japan’s first major multi-sport event since the Tokyo Olympics was affected by relatively poor crowds. Fewer than 1,000 spectators reportedly attended the women’s football semifinal between Japan and South Korea at a stadium with a capacity of 50,000.
Several smaller venues were also sparsely attended, with some events taking place in locations that were difficult for spectators to reach.
China finished the Games at the top of the medal standings with 169 gold medals and 341 medals overall, marking its best medal haul at an Asian Games held outside China.
Japan finished second with 83 gold medals and 269 medals overall, setting a new national record and surpassing its previous best performance at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.
Doha 2030 Next on the Asian Games Calendar
With Aichi-Nagoya now concluded, attention turns to Doha 2030.
Qatar is scheduled to host the next edition of the Asian Games, although the OCA could consider moving the event to 2031 so that it can potentially serve as a continental qualification pathway ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
The handover at the closing ceremony officially put Doha in the spotlight as preparations begin for the next Asian Games.