Al-Zufairi and Al-Hawal Carry Kuwait's Flag at the Opening of the 20th Asian Games "Aichi-Nagoya 2026"
The Asian Games kicked off in Nagoya with wide participation, where Al-Zufairi and Al-Hawal carried Kuwait's flag. Handball defeated Iran, while other teams suffered injuries and losses.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
The 20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya 2026) officially kicked off on Saturday in Nagoya, Japan, and will run until October 4, with broad participation from across the Asian continent.
The opening ceremony was held at Mizuho Park Stadium in Nagoya amid a spectacular celebratory atmosphere. Attendees included Minister of State for Youth and Sports Dr. Tariq Al-Jalahma, Sheikh Fahad Al-Nasser, Head of the Kuwaiti Delegation and President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, alongside numerous official figures and heads of Olympic committees from participating countries.
This marks the third time Japan has hosted the Asian Games, following the Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994 editions. This edition features more than 11,000 athletes representing 45 Asian countries and territories, competing in 43 different sports for colorful medals.
The Kuwaiti delegation experienced a unique moment during the opening ceremony parade, as Kuwaiti national shooting team star Sara Al-Hawwal and Kuwaiti national athletics team star Ibrahim Al-Dhafiri were honored with the privilege of carrying the Kuwaiti flag.
The two athletes expressed their deep pride in this historic moment, emphasizing that carrying the national flag at such a major continental event represents a badge of honor and a doubled responsibility to place Kuwait’s name at the forefront of the competitions. They affirmed that this long-awaited moment serves as a major moral motivation for them and all their teammates to deliver their best performances and reach the podiums.
Strong Start for Kuwait
The Kuwaiti national handball team began its participation in the Games with a valuable and deserved 26-24 victory over their Iranian counterparts, securing their first two points in Group B. The win came after an intense and difficult match characterized by fierce competition, in which the “Blue Team” players imposed their presence on the court through determination, resolve, and great effort throughout both halves, demonstrating their readiness to compete strongly at this continental event.
Kuwaiti national taekwondo athlete Zaid Al-Idan suffered a hamstring injury during his semifinal match against a South Korean player, forcing him to withdraw from the contest.
Al-Idan was scheduled to compete in the bronze medal match against an Indonesian player, but the injury will prevent his participation. In a related development, the Kuwaiti duo of Abdulwahab Al-Qattan and Basil Ahmed lost to the Lebanese team 2-1 in the semifinals, setting up a bronze medal match against the Indonesian team at 5:30 a.m.
