Curtain falls on Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as Doha 2030 takes the flag

The 20th Asian Games came to an official close on Sunday with a 90-minute closing ceremony at the 30,000-seater Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, where Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani declared the Games closed and the OCA flag was handed to Doha, host of the 2030 edition.

In his address, the OCA President said: “Tonight, we close Games that will shape the next generation of Asian sport. You have created a sporting legacy that will touch Japan and beyond. More than 50 world records have been broken, a record for our Asian Games.” The ceremony embraced the “One Asia” theme with laser-lit parkour performers in cherry-blossom-inspired costumes, flag-bearers circling a centre stage, and Japan’s national anthem performed before Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

Thailand’s sprint sensation Puripol Boonson was crowned the meet’s men’s MVP, while 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi was the women’s MVP. China topped the final medal table with more than double the gold medals of second-placed Japan. Off the field, the Games drew criticism over accommodation and transportation.

India finished fourth with 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — with double-gold trap shooter Neeru Dhanda carrying the tricolour at the ceremony; the men’s cricket team beat Pakistan by 19 runs for gold (211/6, Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 51 not out off 22), and the men’s hockey team retained its title 5-1 over Malaysia, also sealing the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic quota.