Kuwaiti flag raised at the 20th Asian Games 'Aichi-Nagoya' 2026

The Olympic Village in Nagoya, Japan, witnessed the raising of the Kuwaiti flag today, Wednesday, marking the participation of the official Kuwaiti sports delegation in the 20th Asian Games, “Aichi-Nagoya 2026,” scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4 next year.

The flag-raising ceremony was attended by the head of the Kuwaiti delegation and Director General of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, Major General Mohammed Al-Khalifa, deputy delegation director Dr. Hussein Al-Saeed, financial director Mohammed Atef, along with several members of the Kuwaiti delegation and officials from the participating sports federations.

The ceremony took place in a festive atmosphere, with the Kuwaiti national anthem played simultaneously with the raising of the flag, a scene familiar to Kuwaiti athletes before the start of major continental tournaments, expressing their pride in national affiliation and representing the State of Kuwait at the largest sporting event in Asia.

For his part, Major General Mohammed Al-Khalifa, head of the Kuwaiti delegation and Director General of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, stated that this occasion represents a moment of pride for all delegation members, commending the efforts of the Kuwait Olympic Committee in preparing athletes and providing all necessary support to help achieve the best results during the competition.

Al-Khalifa added that this participation culminates a phase of preparation and training that spanned the past months, during which full coordination was conducted with the relevant national sports federations to ensure the technical and physical readiness of the players, overcome all obstacles, and provide the logistical and administrative capabilities that guarantee a suitable competitive environment.

He noted that the Kuwait Olympic Committee is closely monitoring the final preparations of the delegation, clarifying that the committee’s goal goes beyond mere presence and participation to achieving honorable competitive results that reflect the level reached by Kuwaiti sports and consolidate the State of Kuwait’s presence at major Asian forums.

Meanwhile, players Rutab Abdulhussain and Habari Al-Thuwaini continued their journey in the women’s singles semifinals of the modern pentathlon, which includes fencing, hurdles, swimming, and running (laser-run), at 4:00 a.m. Both are striving to deliver outstanding performances in this decisive stage, hoping to achieve results that qualify them to continue toward the final stages of the competition.

On his part, Nasser Al-Waleed, president of the Kuwait Modern Pentathlon Club, stated that the national team began its participation in the “Nagoya 2026” Asian Games based on qualification slots earned during their participation in last year’s Asian Championship in Japan, which resulted in Kuwait securing three qualification spots (two for women and one for men).

Al-Waleed confirmed that the tournament features strong competition with 36 athletes representing 14 Asian countries, with matches starting directly from the semifinals according to the tournament format. He added that in the fencing heats of the modern pentathlon, Mohammed Al-Sahbi represents Kuwait in the men’s competition, while Habari Al-Thuwaini and Rutab Abdulhussain compete in the women’s events.

He expressed the confidence of the team’s administrative and technical staff in the high aspirations and belief in the national team’s ability to deliver outstanding performances and reach advanced stages, affirming the players’ readiness to compete at the highest levels to raise the Kuwaiti flag at this continental event.

In teqball competitions, player Zaid Aidan begins his campaign in the men’s singles qualifying round at 3:00 a.m., aiming to advance to the later stages of the tournament. Meanwhile, the duo of Bassel Ahmed and Abdulwahab Al-Qattan will compete in the men’s doubles qualifying matches at 7:30 a.m., hoping to secure a strong start that boosts their chances of reaching the final rounds.