Main Korean delegation arrives in Nagoya
Summary
The main batch of the Korean delegation arrived in Nagoya, Japan, on Thursday for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with 122 athletes and officials from six sports heading into the medal race. Korea is aiming for around 45 gold medals and will compete in 41 of 43 sports. The opening ceremony is Saturday, and the competition closes Oct. 4. Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin and badminton player Seo Seung-jae led the delegation’s arrival.
Key Facts
- The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said 122 athletes and officials from six sports arrived at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, about 30 kilometers south of Nagoya.
- Korea plans to compete in 41 of the 43 sports at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
- The KSOC is targeting around 45 gold medals at the Games.
- At the previous Asian Games, Japan finished second with 52 gold medals, 10 more than third-ranked Korea.
- The official welcome ceremony was held later Thursday at Nagoya Port’s Fuji Plaza, and participants from Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Iraq and Myanmar also joined it.
Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, center, leads the Korean delegation to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as they depart from Incheon International Airport, after a send-off ceremony, Thursday. Yonhap
NAGOYA, Japan — The main batch of the Korean delegation to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games arrived in the main host city in central Japan on Thursday, with their sights set on challenging the host country in the medal race set to begin this weekend.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) said 122 athletes and officials from six sports arrived at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, some 30 kilometers south of Nagoya.
They are joining athletes in sports such as football, volleyball and basketball, whose competition has already started in and around Nagoya. The opening ceremony is Saturday and the competition will close Oct. 4.
The KSOC is targeting around 45 gold medals, with Korea competing in 41 out of 43 sports. China is expected to dominate the medal race once again, leaving Korea and Japan to duel for second place.
At the previous Asiad three years ago, Japan finished second with 52 gold medals, 10 more than third-ranked Korea.
Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin and badminton player Seo Seung-jae led the delegation's march through the Japanese airport upon arrival. They were greeted by Jung Mi-ae, Korea's consul general in Nagoya, and other officials representing Korean residents in the prefecture of Aichi.
"I would like to thank everyone here for such a warm welcome. We will try to fly our flag in the Nagoya sky as much as we can," said Lee Sang-hyun, president of the Korea Cycling Federation serving as the chief of the Asiad delegation. "Our athletes have already done so well so far in their preliminary stages, and the real battle starts now."
Shin, who was also chosen as a co-flag bearer for the opening ceremony earlier Thursday, said, "It is an honor and a pleasure to compete at the Asian Games. I will do the best I can."
Later Thursday, the Korean athletes and officials attended the official welcome ceremony hosted by the organizing committee at Nagoya Port's Fuji Plaza.
As a cost-saving measure, Nagoya officials chose not to build a dedicated athletes' village. Participants are instead staying at hotels across Aichi Prefecture, with some having been assigned to the cruise ship Costa Serena and others having settled inside container units.
Korea was joined in the ceremony by those from Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Iraq and Myanmar.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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