Kuwait's flag raised at the Olympic Village

The Olympic Village in Nagoya, Japan, witnessed the flag-raising ceremony for the State of Kuwait, marking the official participation of the Kuwaiti sports delegation in the 20th Asian Games, “Aichi-Nagoya 2026,” scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4 next. The ceremony was attended by Muhammad Saeed Al-Khalifan, Head of the Kuwait Delegation and General Secretary of the Kuwait Olympic Committee; Dr. Hussein Al-Saied, Deputy Head of the Delegation; Muhammad Atef, Financial Manager; along with several delegation members and officials from the participating sports federations.

The ceremony was held in a celebratory atmosphere, featuring the playing of the Kuwaiti national anthem in sync with the raising of the flag, a scene reflecting the pride of Kuwaiti athletes in representing their country at one of the largest sporting events in the Asian continent.

Al-Khalifan affirmed that the flag-raising ceremony represents a moment of pride for all members of the delegation. He praised the efforts of the Kuwait Olympic Committee in preparing the athletes and providing them with the necessary support, expressing optimism about achieving the best possible results during the Games. He added that Kuwait’s participation is the culmination of a preparation and training phase that has extended over the past months, characterized by continuous coordination with the relevant national sports federations to enhance the technical and physical readiness of the players, remove obstacles, and provide the necessary logistical and administrative capabilities.

He noted that the Kuwait Olympic Committee is closely monitoring the final preparations of the delegation, clarifying that the goal is not merely to attend and participate, but to strive for competitive and honorable results that reflect the level of Kuwaiti sports and enhance Kuwait’s presence in major Asian forums.

In another development, athletes Rataj Abdul-Hussein and Hubari Al-Thuwaini continue their journey in the women’s individual semifinals of modern pentathlon, which includes fencing, show jumping, swimming, and the “laser-run” (running and shooting), scheduled for 4:00 a.m. The two athletes aim to deliver a distinguished performance in this crucial stage, hoping to secure a result that qualifies them to advance to the final stages of the competition.

Nasser Al-Waleed, President of the Kuwait Modern Pentathlon Club, stated that the national team began its participation in the Asian Games based on the qualification spots it earned during its participation in the Asian Championship held in Japan last year, which resulted in Kuwait securing three qualification spots: two for women and one for men.

Al-Waleed explained that the competition features 36 athletes representing 14 Asian countries, noting that the competition begins directly from the semifinal stage according to the Games’ format. He added that Muhammad Al-Sahibi represents Kuwait in the men’s competition, while Hubari Al-Thuwaini and Rataj Abdul-Hussein compete in the women’s events. He expressed confidence in the administrative and technical staff’s belief in the team’s ability to deliver outstanding performances and advance to later stages.

In teqball, player Zaid Aidan begins his journey in the men’s individual qualifiers at 3:00 a.m., aiming to advance to the later rounds. Additionally, the duo of Basel Ahmad and Abdulwahab Al-Qattan will compete in the men’s doubles qualifiers at 7:30 a.m., where the Kuwaiti pair hopes to make a strong start to enhance their chances of reaching the final stages.