How big are the Asian Games?

Well, they are larger in numbers than the Summer Olympics, which gives an idea of the magnitude and logistics.

The Paris Olympics in 2024 involved 10,700 athletes. The Asian Games will open Saturday in Nagoya, Japan, with more than 11,000 athletes signed up. The number may be much larger as organisers have acknowledged a last-minute crush of athletes and officials attending. This has put pressure on available housing.

The Asian Games were first held in 1951 in Delhi, India. This is the 20th edition with the games last held in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, where around 12,000 athletes attended. Those games were delayed a year by the pandemic.

Of course, the Asian Games don’t have quite the star power of the Olympics. But there are big names and plenty of local stars from the 45 countries and regions entered, from Afghanistan to Yemen.

Many of these nations seldom make a dent at the Olympics. But they have a chance at the Asian Games.

China features swim star Yu Zidi

As a 12-year-old at last year’s swimming World Championships in Singapore, Yu Zidi finished fourth in her three races – the 200m and 400m individual medley and the 200 butterfly. She’s 13 now.

World records could fall with swimming taking centrestage during the first six days of competition.

China will likely dominate the swimming with Olympic gold medallists like Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun, Qin Haiyang and Xu Jiayu expected in the field. Pan holds the world record in the 100 freestyle and Qin has the mark in the 200 breaststroke.

China topped all teams three years ago with 28 gold medals in swimming.

Some call these the “China Games”. China won 201 gold medals at the last games, Japan had 52 with 42 for South Korea. The same overall dominance is expected with the Asian Games closing 4 October.

Badminton is a hot ticket in Asia

South Korean An Se Young, the gold medallist in the 2024 Olympics and badminton’s No 1-ranked female, is one to watch. She took gold three years ago in women’s singles in China and also picked up a team gold medal.

She is fresh off winning her third straight China Masters title. She also took the world title earlier this year.

“I have played in so many international tournaments that the Asian Games will feel just like any other event,” the South Korean state news agency Yonhap quoted her saying.

“But one thing that makes it special is that if I reach the top of the podium, I will get to hear our national anthem.”

Alex Eala skips WTA event for Asian Games

Philippine tennis star Alex Eala is expected to play in the Asian Games, skipping the WTA 1000 China Open.

“I love playing and competing with the Philippine team,” said Eala, who is No 18 in the WTA rankings. “I think it’s a really fun environment.”

Speaking at the recent US Open, she raved about playing last year in the smaller Southeast Asian Games.

“There are really memories that stick with me,” she said. “You know the Asian Games happens every four years. I found myself drawn to competing in that.”

She won two bronze medals in China three years ago. But going for gold this time may have a price.

The China Open is a mandatory WTA event and Eala could face a fine and a ranking-points penalty for skipping it.

Sri Lankan javelin thrower breaking through

Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage just won the event at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary. He’ll be the favorite in the Asian Games.

That includes being favoured over defending Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan. He was fifth in Budapest. India’s Neeraj Chopra, the 2020 Olympic champion, will miss the games with an ankle injury.

Athletes housed on an Italian cruise ship

There’s no dedicated athletes’ village at these games. Up to 5,000 athletes and officials will stay on the Italian liner Costa Serena. Others will be lodged in hotels and in temporary wood containers.

Organisers planned for 15,000 athletes and officials. But around August the number soared to 17,000. The Olympic Council of Asia has said those registered by a July deadline will get accommodation. Others who came late have to find their own.

Part of the crunch is the addition of new sports like teqball and padel. Also, some delegations seem extraordinarily large. China, with 1.4 billion people, is sending 815 and Hong Kong, with a population of only 7.5 million, is sending about 580.

High security for Japanese royal family

Japanese media is reporting that 10,000 police and security forces will be on duty for the opening ceremony on Saturday in Nagoya with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attending.

The emperor is expected to attend a basketball game on Sunday.

Matan Segal directed Kick It Out Israel, an anti-discrimination initiative with similar aims but no link to the English organisation of the same name, for almost four years before stepping down a few months ago.

Racism has long been present in Israeli club football. Beitar Jerusalem’s fans are among the most notorious.

In 2013, ultras burned down their own club’s offices in protest at the signing of two Chechen Muslims.

The most extreme Beitar fans have long taunted Israeli Arabs with chants of “may your village burn”, while declaring themselves “forever pure”.

However during his time at Kick It Out Israel, Segal saw racism against Arab players become more virulent and widespread.

Covid, during which fans radicalised online during lockdown, was one cause.

The election of Israel’s far-right government at the end of 2022, legitimising views towards Palestinians that were previously seen as extreme, was a second.

The war was undoubtedly another.

“Before 7 October, people generally respected the Arab players,” Segal said.

“Even though they had difficulties with them not singing the Israeli anthem, they respected them and they could talk about it.

“After 7 October though, we saw an increase in racist remarks.

“It was happening at small clubs where we hadn’t seen it before. There were terrible songs – ‘Let’s kill all Arabs’, ‘There are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left’.”

Football, inevitably, has become a focal point for emotion generated by the conflict.

Clubs which are usually bitter rivals came together to remember those killed by Hamas. Scarves were part of the commemoration at the site of the Nova music festival, where hundreds were killed.

Hapoel Jerusalem’s club badge now features a silhouette of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was abducted and killed in captivity and whose parents have campaigned for peace through their grief.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldiers have posed with club flags and banners while on operation in Gaza, dedicating their actions to the clubs and ultras back home., external

In such a heightened atmosphere, young footballers – closely connected to the conflict through Israel’s programme of national service and a barrage of online commentary and images – are under constant scrutiny and pressure.

Gloukh’s lifelong friend Afik Tery was killed by a Hamas explosive while serving in the IDF.

After his death, Gloukh posted a poignant set of pictures, external of the pair arm-in-arm over time – as young boys at birthday parties, as young men at a wedding – with the final slide showing Tery’s funeral.

Among the online replies were the taunts of pro-Palestinians.

For Israel players with Palestinian heritage, the stakes are especially and dangerously high.

Dia Saba plays in a similar playmaking role to Gloukh. The 33-year-old has scored three goals in 13 appearances for Israel.

He is unlikely ever to add to that tally.

Saba was one of Maccabi Haifa’s most high-profile stars when, at the start of the conflict, his wife Narmin posted a message to Instagram.

“There are children in Gaza, too,” she wrote.

Saba apologised for the outrage caused, but could not save his career in Israel. He left Maccabi Haifa in 2025 and now plays for Turkish side Amedspor.

“My dream was to play for Maccabi Haifa, the club that I support, the team that I grew up with,” Saba said at the time.

“I wanted to continue. But sometimes there are reasons that are stronger than us that don’t allow it.”

It appears Ilia Topuria has been medically cleared to continue fighting, and ‘El Matador’ has now stormed back onto social media, accusing Justin Gaethje of foul play.

However, after Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, mentioned Topuria’s son during their online back-and-forth, the hard-hitting lightweight has now issued a chilling warning to the Dominance MMA CEO.

For context, after announcing that he was officially back, Topuria accused Gaethje of foul play, suggesting that ‘The Highlight‘ had tampered with his gloves to gain an unfair advantage. In a subsequent post, the former lightweight champion took aim at both Gaethje and his manager with an F-bomb-laden post.

Abdelaziz responded to the fighter’s insults, writing:

“Welcome back Champ, I’m glad you are ok. I’m not going to give you the F word back because your son is my friend, and I cannot say bad words to his father. Tell him I said, ‘What’s up?’ He is the man.”

Safe to say Topuria did not appreciate Abdelaziz bringing his son into the conversation and hit back with a warning:

“Don’t bring my son into this. You being his friend has nothing to do with me and you. You know exactly why I said what I said. So don’t hide behind him. F**k you still stands.”

Check out Ilia Topuria’s clapback at Ali Abdelaziz below:

Former UFC two-division champion Topuria was last seen suffering a TKO loss via corner stoppage against Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. As he gears up for his comeback, Dana White has hinted at a fight against Paddy Pimblett or a rematch with Gaethje as potential options.

What did Ilia Topuria accuse Justin Gaethje of?

It appears Ilia Topuria doesn’t believe Justin Gaethje won their UFC Freedom 250 bout fair and square. ‘El Matador’ seems to suspect that ‘The Highlight’ may have put “something weird” in his gloves during the contest.

In a post on X earlier this week, Topuria announced his comeback to fighting, claiming that he had completed his final medical tests. However, the fighter’s return announcement quickly turned to scathing accusations against the reigning lightweight champion:

“Final medical tests done. I’m back. To all the clowns who’ve been talking s**t and counting me out this whole time, here I am. Now let’s see who’s got the b**ls. Thanks to everyone for the support. Next time I’ll make sure they check Justin’s gloves so he doesn’t put anything weird on them. See you soon.”