The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games are entering their final stage in Japan, bringing more than two weeks of competition to a close. The 20th edition of the Asian Games began on September 19 and is scheduled to conclude on October 4. The final day will feature the last medal events before the closing ceremony in Nagoya. The Games have produced major performances across athletics, boxing, cricket, football, golf, wrestling, squash, shooting, and many other sports. China has remained at the top of the medal table, while Japan, South Korea, and several other Asian nations have also produced strong medal-winning performances. Reuters reported on October 3 that China had reached 169 gold medals and 341 total medals, while Japan had produced a record medal haul exceeding 260.
When Is the Final Day of the Asian Games 2026?
The final day of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is Sunday, October 4, 2026. The competition officially runs from September 19 to October 4.
Several events are scheduled around the final day, including the remaining equestrian competitions. After the final sporting activities, athletes and officials will turn their attention to the closing ceremony.
The official closing ceremony will take place at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The organizers have scheduled the ceremony to begin at 6:00 p.m. local time, with the event expected to finish around 7:30 p.m.
Therefore, October 4 will serve two purposes. First, athletes will compete for the final medals. Then, the host city will officially bring the Games to an end.
China Leads the Asian Games Medal Race
China has been the leading medal-winning nation throughout Aichi-Nagoya 2026. By October 3, the Chinese team had collected 169 gold medals and 341 medals overall, according to Reuters.
China’s performance has again highlighted the country’s depth across Asian sports. Its athletes have competed strongly in swimming, athletics, shooting, gymnastics, weightlifting, combat sports, and other disciplines.
Japan has also enjoyed a major home game. Reuters reported that Japan had surpassed 260 medals, making the host nation’s overall medal haul one of the major stories of the competition.
South Korea has also produced several notable performances. The country recently reached 800 Asian Games gold medals across its history, marking an important milestone for Korean sport.
India Produces Major Medal Achievements
India has been one of the prominent medal-winning nations at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Its athletes have collected medals across shooting, athletics, boxing, wrestling, hockey, kabaddi, and other sports.
One of India’s biggest recent achievements came in men’s hockey. India defeated Malaysia to win the gold medal, helping the country move higher in the overall medal standings. Business Standard reported that the hockey victory contributed to India’s rise to fourth place.
India also enjoyed a strong finish in boxing.
Ankush Panghal Wins Boxing Gold
Ankush Panghal won the men’s 80kg boxing gold medal after defeating South Korea’s Kim Min-seong in the final. His victory continued an impressive run after he had also won the Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow earlier in 2026. (Devdiscourse)
India’s boxing campaign produced several champions on the final day of the boxing program. World Boxing reported that 11 boxing champions were crowned on October 2, with India finishing at the top of the boxing medal table. (World Boxing)
Lovlina Borgohain Adds Another Gold
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain also won gold in the women’s 75 kg category. She defeated China’s Bao Ziyi in the final and celebrated the victory on her 29th birthday.
Her victory added another major achievement to India’s boxing campaign.
Sujeet Kalkal Wins Wrestling Gold
India’s Sujeet Kalkal produced another memorable performance in wrestling. He won the men’s 65 kg freestyle gold medal after recovering from a nine-point deficit against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev.
Before the final, Kalkal had also defeated Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the semifinal. (Reuters)
His comeback became one of the notable wrestling moments of the Games.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting Claims Boxing Gold
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting also became one of the major medal achievers of the final days.
Lin won the women’s 60 kg boxing gold medal after defeating China’s Yang Chengyu 5–0. It was her second Asian Games gold medal, although her previous title came in a different weight category. (Reuters)
The victory followed her Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024. Her performance in Japan therefore added another major title to her international career.
South Korea Wins Football Gold
South Korea continued its strong Asian Games football record by winning the men’s football gold medal.
The Korean team defeated Japan 1–0 in the final, with Eom Ji-sung scoring the decisive goal. The victory gave South Korea its fourth consecutive Asian Games men’s football gold medal.
The result also carried significance for the Korean players because an Asian Games gold medal provides eligible South Korean athletes with an exemption from mandatory military service.
Tom Kim Wins Golf Gold for South Korea
South Korean golfer Tom Kim produced another standout performance.
Kim won the men’s individual golf gold medal after shooting a final-round 64 at Kasugai Country Club. He finished three strokes ahead of the field.
The victory also brought an important personal benefit. Kim earned a military-service exemption through his Asian Games gold medal.
Malaysia Shines in Squash
Malaysia enjoyed a particularly successful Asian Games squash campaign.
The country won both the men’s and women’s squash team gold medals. Reuters reported that Malaysia ultimately collected four of the five available squash titles during the competition.
That performance underlined Malaysia’s long-standing strength in Asian squash.
Japan Wins Women’s Football Gold
The host nation also produced a dramatic women’s football final.
Japan defeated North Korea on penalties after the teams finished 2–2 following extra time. Japan won the shootout 5–3. (Reuters)
For the home team, the result added another gold medal to Japan’s large overall medal haul.
Iran Adds Taekwondo Gold
Iran’s Arian Salimi was another notable medal achiever.
Salimi won gold in taekwondo, adding another important title to Iran’s strong combat sports tradition. Reuters identified his victory among the notable results from the final stages of the Games.
Taekwondo has traditionally been an important medal source for several Asian nations, and Aichi-Nagoya 2026 continued that pattern.
Pakistan’s Medal Achievements
Pakistan also secured medals at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
One of the country’s notable achievements came in esports. Pakistan’s PUBG Mobile team won a bronze medal after finishing third in the 12-match competition.
The team included Mohammad Huzaifa, Shayan Asad, Falak Sher, Hasnain Rehman, and Syed Sameer. Pakistan finished with 100 points, behind Thailand and China.
The bronze added to Pakistan’s medal collection at the Games.
Pakistan’s medal campaign also included medals from women’s cricket, modern MMA, and squash, according to the report from Dawn. (Dawn)
For Pakistan, these results provide another example of how a wider range of sports can contribute to its Asian Games medal tally.
OCA to Announce Asian Games MVPs
The final day will also bring attention to the Asian Games MVP awards.
The Olympic Council of Asia plans to announce both the female and male MVPs on October 4. A five-member panel will select the athletes based on factors including gold-medal performances and records achieved during the Games.
The award has a long history. Previous Asian Games MVP winners have included Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima, Chinese badminton star Lin Dan, and Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee. At the Hangzhou 2022 Games, the OCA introduced separate male and female MVP awards.
The 2026 winners will therefore be announced as part of the final day’s celebrations.
What Happens on the Final Day?
The final day will focus on the last medal opportunities and the closing ceremony.
Equestrian competition is among the sports with activities scheduled for October 4. The organizers have also announced schedule adjustments for the final day’s equestrian events.
Once the final medals are awarded, attention will shift to the closing ceremony.
The ceremony is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on October 4 at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The official visitor information says the program is expected to end at around 7:30 p.m. (Aichi Nagoya 2026).
The ceremony will formally close the 20th Asian Games.
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Leaves a Strong Sporting Legacy
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have produced memorable achievements across a wide range of sports.
China has dominated the medal standings, while Japan has enjoyed the benefit of competing at home. South Korea, India, Iran, Malaysia, Taiwan and many other nations have also produced standout performances.
Individual achievements have added another layer to the competition. Tom Kim’s golf gold, Lin Yu-ting’s boxing victory, Sujeet Kalkal’s wrestling comeback, Lovlina Borgohain’s boxing title and South Korea’s football success are among the major stories from the final stages.
At the same time, athletes from smaller sporting nations have created important moments of their own. Pakistan’s PUBG Mobile bronze is one example of a medal coming from a relatively newer Asian Games discipline.
As October 4 arrives, the remaining medal events will complete the sporting program. The closing ceremony will then bring Aichi-Nagoya 2026 to an official end.
The Games began with athletes from across Asia gathering in Japan. They will finish with champions celebrated, medals awarded, and a new group of Asian Games memories created. The final medal table and the two MVP awards will provide the last major results of the 2026 edition.
Important for publication: Since today is October 3, 2026, I would publish this as a “Final Day Preview & Medal Achievers” article rather than claiming that October 4’s final medals have already been decided. The official closing ceremony is scheduled for October 4.
FAQs: Asian Games 2026 Final Day
1. When is the final day of the Asian Games 2026?
The final day of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games is October 4, 2026. The closing ceremony will take place in Nagoya, Japan.
2. Which country is leading the Asian Games 2026 medal table?
China is leading the medal standings, with Japan and South Korea among the other major medal-winning nations.
3. Who are some notable medal achievers at the Asian Games 2026?
Notable athletes include Ankush Panghal, Lovlina Borgohain, Sujeet Kalkal, Lin Yu-ting and Tom Kim, who won gold medals in boxing, wrestling and golf.
4. How did India perform at the Asian Games 2026?
India won medals across several sports, including boxing, wrestling, hockey and cricket. Its men’s hockey team also won the gold medal.
5. What happens after the final Asian Games events?
After the remaining competitions on October 4, the Asian Games closing ceremony will take place at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, officially bringing the Games to an end.
