Asian Para Games 2026 open in Aichi-Nagoya on 18 October as Malaysia chase six golds after seven in Hangzhou

The fifth Asian Para Games open in Japan on Sunday, 18 October. Malaysia's para athletes will compete for a week in Aichi-Nagoya and its surrounding cities until the closing ceremony on 24 October. Chef de mission Tan Chee Keong's contingent is aiming for at least six gold medals. That is one fewer than Malaysia won at the previous edition in Hangzhou. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sent the team his best wishes on Friday.

The Games at a glance

Aichi-Nagoya is the fifth Asian Para Games and comes three years after Hangzhou, which was held in October 2023 after a one-year delay. The International Paralympic Committee expects about 3,000 athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees to compete in 18 sports. Venues are spread across Nagoya and nearby towns in Aichi Prefecture. Track cycling is held at the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka.

Hosts Japan are sending about 285 athletes. The motto of the Games is "Imagine One Heart". Japan also hosted the Asian Games in the same region in September and October.

Malaysia's target and sports

Tan announced the target in September at a flag handover ceremony in Bukit Jalil: at least six golds and 10 silvers. Malaysia will compete in 10 of the 18 sports: boccia, para archery, para athletics, para badminton, para cycling, para powerlifting, para shooting, para swimming, para table tennis and wheelchair tennis.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Anwar told the athletes that the whole country was behind them. He asked them to keep pushing and bring glory to Malaysia.

Hangzhou set a high standard

In Hangzhou, Malaysia won 39 medals, beating their 35-medal target, and finished with seven golds. The gold medallists were swimmer Muhammad Nur Syaiful Zulkafli, cyclist Nur Suraiya Muhammad Zamri, athletes Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Abdul Latif Romly and Muhammad Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi, powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and boccia player Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim.

Matching that will not be easy. China and the other big nations bring large teams to these Games. Malaysia's strength has usually come from a small group of world-class athletes in athletics, powerlifting, para badminton and boccia.

Smaller sports, big ambitions

Some of the smaller teams have clear goals too. Bernama reported that the wheelchair tennis pair Mohd Yusshazwan Yusof and Abu Samah Borhan want to defend the men's doubles silver they won in Hangzhou. They are also aiming for a singles bronze. The pair arrive in good form after winning men's doubles titles at three WC50 wheelchair tennis tournaments in Italy in September. They expect to be seeded fourth, which would keep them apart from the strongest teams early in the draw.

Japan is one hour ahead of Malaysia, so most sessions will take place during daytime hours in Malaysia, which makes them easy for fans at home to follow.

Key takeaways

• The fifth Asian Para Games run from 18 to 24 October in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with about 3,000 athletes from 45 nations in 18 sports.
• Malaysia, led by chef de mission Tan Chee Keong, are aiming for at least six golds and 10 silvers across 10 sports.
• Malaysia won seven golds and 39 medals in Hangzhou, beating a 35-medal target.
• Wheelchair tennis pair Yusshazwan Yusof and Abu Samah Borhan want to defend their men's doubles silver.

FAQ

When are the 2026 Asian Para Games? They run from Sunday, 18 October, to Saturday, 24 October 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

What is Malaysia's gold medal target? At least six golds, along with 10 silvers, according to chef de mission Tan Chee Keong.

How did Malaysia do at the last Asian Para Games? In Hangzhou in 2023, Malaysia won seven golds and 39 medals in total, beating their 35-medal target.

Sources: Bernama, The Star, International Paralympic Committee, Sukanz