Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Stephen Wade The Associated Press
The Asian Games, set to open in Nagoya, Japan on Saturday, feature more than 11,000 athletes, surpassing the number of participants at the Paris Olympics in 2024 which had around 10,700. Organizers anticipate a surge in attendance due to last-minute registrations, putting pressure on accommodations. The event, spanning over four weeks and concluding on October 4, showcases athletes from 45 countries across Asia, with China expected to dominate, especially in swimming where it won the most medals three years ago.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Asian Games, set to open on Saturday in Nagoya, Japan, are significantly larger than the Summer Olympics in terms of athlete numbers. The Paris Olympics involved 10,700 athletes, while the Asian Games have more than 11,000 registered participants, with organizers expecting even more due to last-minute sign-ups. This surge has strained local housing availability. First held in 1951 in New Delhi, India, this is the 20th edition of the games; the previous event in Hangzhou, China, saw about 12,000 athletes participate in 2023 after a pandemic-induced delay. Unlike the Olympics, which feature more global stars, the Asian Games offer opportunities for lesser-known but highly skilled athletes from countries like Afghanistan and Yemen to shine alongside big names such as Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, who gained international recognition at last year's World Championships despite being only 12 years old.
Written for “Asian Games Athlete Numbers” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Well, they are larger in numbers than the Summer Olympics, which gives you an idea of the magnitude and logistics.
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which → give → magnitude
The Paris Olympics in 2024 involved 10,700 athletes.
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Olympics → involve → athletes
The Asian Games will open Saturday in Nagoya, Japan, with more than 11,000 athletes signed up.
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athletes → open → Nagoya
The number may be much larger as organizers have acknowledged a last-minute crush of athletes and officials attending.
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organizers → acknowledge → athletes
This has put pressure on available housing.
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This → put → housing
The Asian Games were first held in 1951 in New Delhi, India.
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Games → hold → Delhi
This is the 20th edition with games last held in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, where about 12,000 athletes attended.
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athletes → hold → Hangzhou
Those games were delayed a year by the pandemic.
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games → delay → pandemic
Of course, the Asian Games don’t have quite the star power of the Olympics.
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Games → have → Olympics
Many of these nations seldom make a dent at the Olympics.
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Many → make → Olympics
But they have a chance at the Asian Games.
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they → have → Games
China features swim star Yu Zidi
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China → feature → Zidi
As a 12-year-old at last year’s swimming World Championships in Singapore, Yu Zidi finished fourth in her three races — the 200- and 400-meter individual medley and the 200 butterfly.
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Zidi → finish → races
She’s 13 now and will turn 14 in October.
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She → ’ → October
World records could fall with swimming taking center stage during the first six days of competition.
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swimming → fall → competition
China will likely dominate the swimming with Olympic gold medalists like Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun, Qin Haiyang and Xu Jiayu expected in the field.
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medalists → dominate → field
Pan holds the world record in the 100 freestyle and Qin has the mark in the 200 breaststroke.
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Qin → hold → breaststroke
China topped all teams three years ago with 28 gold medals in swimming.
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China → top → swimming
Some call these the “China Games.”
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Some → call → these
China won 201 gold medals at the last games, Japan had 52 with 42 for South Korea.
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Japan → win → Korea
The same overall dominance is expected with the Asian Games closing Oct. 4.
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Games → expect → ?
South Korean An Se-young, the gold medalist in the 2024 Olympics and badminton’s No. 1-ranked female, is one to watch.
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young → rank → Olympics
She took gold three years ago in women’s singles in China and also picked up a team gold medal.
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She → take → medal
She is fresh off winning her third straight China Masters title.
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She → win → title
She also took the world title earlier this year.
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She → take → title
“I have played in so many international tournaments that the Asian Games will feel just like any other event,” the South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted her saying.
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her → play → event
“But one thing that makes it special is that if I reach the top of the podium, I will get to hear our national anthem.”
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I → make → anthem
Alex Eala skips WTA event for Asian Games
Philippine tennis star Alex Eala is expected to play in the Asian Games, skipping the WTA 1000 China Open.
“I love playing and competing with the Philippine team,” said Eala, who is No. 18 in the WTA rankings.
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who → skip → rankings
“I think it’s a really fun environment.”
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it → think → ?
Speaking at the recent U.S. Open, she raved about playing last year in the smaller Southeast Asian Games.
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she → speak → Games
“There are really memories that stick with me,” she said.
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she → be → me
“You know the Asian Games happens every four years.
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Games → know → ?
I found myself drawn to competing in that.”
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myself → find → that
She won two bronze medals in China three years ago.
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She → win → China
But going for gold this time may have a price.
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going → go → price
The China Open is a mandatory WTA event and Eala could face a fine and a ranking-points penalty for skipping it.
uncertain
Eala → face → it
Sri Lankan javelin thrower breaking through
Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage just won the event at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
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Pathirage → break → Budapest
That includes being favored over defending Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan.
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That → include → Pakistan
India’s Neeraj Chopra, the 2020 Olympic champion, will miss the games with an ankle injury.
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Chopra → miss → injury
Up to 5,000 athletes and officials will stay on the Italian liner Costa Serena.
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athletes → stay → liner
…and 9 more, not listed.
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