A Hundred and Four Millimetres of Rain in an Hour Forced Asian Games Athletes Out as Malaysia Set a Thirty-Three Medal Target
Record rain in Nagoya forced Asian Games athletes to evacuate on 8 September as Malaysia prepare to send 352 athletes to Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Preparations for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya were disrupted this week when record rainfall hit the host city, less than a fortnight before the opening ceremony on 19 September.
About 104 millimetres of rain fell in Nagoya within one hour on 8 September, prompting municipal evacuation orders for parts of the city. Hundreds of athletes were temporarily moved from the Garden Pier accommodation area, where competitors are housed in wooden container units, and returned after about two hours when the order was lifted. Rainwater also leaked into several competition venues.
Nagoya mayor Ichiro Hirosawa said the situation was not serious enough to put the opening in doubt, and events are proceeding as scheduled. The Games, which run until 4 October, do not have a traditional athletes' village; competitors are staying on a cruise ship, in temporary wooden containers and in hotels. More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected.
Japanese authorities have also announced that about 10,000 police officers, including 3,100 dispatched from forces around the country, will be deployed for the opening ceremony at the athletics stadium in Nagoya, which Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are due to attend. Drone no-fly zones will be set within roughly one kilometre of the venue.
Malaysia will send 352 athletes and 185 officials to compete in 30 of the 43 sports and 156 of the 469 events. Malaysia has set a target of 33 medals, made up of six gold, seven silver and 20 bronze. Chef de mission Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan identified track cycling, badminton, archery, diving, squash, sepak takraw and hockey among 13 sports with medal potential. Wushu athlete Tan Cheong Min will carry the flag.