Oman prepares for 10-sport Asian Games campaign in Japan

MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), is expected to compete in 10 sports at the 20th Asian Games, which will take place in the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
The Asian Games, acting as the continent's largest multi-sport event, will bring together thousands of elite athletes from across Asia, with Oman aiming to build on its best-ever performance achieved at the previous edition in Hangzhou, China. According to a source, Oman is likely to field athletes in cricket, hockey, shooting, beach volleyball, fencing, weightlifting, athletics, sailing, golf and taekwondo.
The selection of the participating sports follows an extensive evaluation process conducted by the OOC's Planning and Follow-up Committee in coordination with the respective national sports associations and technical committees. During a series of meetings held over the past several months, officials reviewed the preparation programmes, technical readiness and medal prospects of each national team before finalising the proposed list of participating disciplines.
The committee assessed each federation's long-term development plans, athletes' recent performances at regional and international competitions, qualification opportunities and overall readiness for one of Asia's most prestigious sporting events.

Omani athletes are already engaged in comprehensive preparation programmes, including domestic training camps, overseas camps and participation in international championships designed to enhance their competitiveness ahead of the continental showpiece. Several national federations have intensified their technical programmes with the objective of ensuring their athletes arrive in Japan in peak condition. The preparation plans also include exposure to high-level international competition to provide valuable experience against Asia's leading athletes.
Oman heads into the 2026 Games with growing confidence following its historic achievements at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023. The previous edition marked the country's most successful Asian Games campaign after Omani athletes secured two medals for the first time in the nation's history. The breakthrough performance came in sailing, where Waleed al Kindi and Musaab al Hadi had claimed a historic silver medal in the men's 49er event, becoming the first Omani sailors to stand on the Asian Games podium. Athletics also delivered a memorable moment as middle-distance runner Hussain al Farsi had captured the bronze medal in the men's 800 metres, ensuring Oman celebrated two podium finishes during the same edition of the Games for the first time ever.

Those achievements represented a significant milestone for Omani sport and demonstrated the steady progress made across several Olympic disciplines.
The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games will feature 469 medal events across 43 sports, making it one of the largest editions in the history of the Games. Competitions will be staged at world-class venues throughout the Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City, including the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The Games will also introduce three new sports to the Asian Games programme including: surfing, padel and teqball—reflecting the continued evolution of the continental event and its commitment to engaging younger generations of athletes and fans. Overall, the programme will include 43 sports, 68 disciplines and more than 460 medal events across a diverse range of disciplines including: athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket, cycling, equestrian, esports, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, karate, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, skateboarding, sport climbing, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu, among others.
The Aichi-Nagoya Games will also mark Japan's return to hosting a major international multi-sport event following the successful staging of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with organisers promising world-class facilities and a memorable experience for athletes and spectators alike.