The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, representing 60% of the world's population, begin with athletics on September 22. Notable entries include gold medalists from recent championships. Japanese athletes lead in 15 events, with strong contenders in various races.
Key athletes include Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, Haruka Kitaguchi, and Birhanu Balew. Japan's top chances for gold are in men's 1500 m, women's marathon, and mixed 4x400 m relay. The full schedule and top entries are available on Japan Running News. Read more racing coverage.
The half marathon race walk features Sheng-Qin Lo and Yung-Kuei Chan. The women's marathon race walk includes Georgiy Sheiko and Chenlong Yuan. Complete results and more details are on Japan Running News. Related: Japan's Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Team Faces Changes.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Japan Running News. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
Reader questions
Questions about this report
What should runners know about Asian Games Athletics Preview: Top Entries and Schedule?
Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games feature top athletes in various events starting September 22. The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, representing 60% of the world's population, begin with athletics on September 22. Notable entries include gold medalists from recent championships. Japanese athletes lead in 15 events, with strong contenders in various races.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on September 21, 2026. The underlying Japan Running News report was dated September 21, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Japan Running News. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
THE WEEKLY BRIEFING
Start the week a step ahead.
A concise edit of the running stories worth knowing, sent every Monday.