Asian Games 2026 Athletics Schedule: Key Stars and Events
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
The athletics competition at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is set to bring together some of Asia’s leading track and field athletes for seven days of action in Japan.
The athletics programme will primarily be held at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium from September 23 to 29, 2026.
Several Olympic, world and continental champions are expected to compete, making athletics one of the major attractions of this year’s Asian Games.
Major Athletics Stars to Watch
Japan’s Kitaguchi Haruka will headline the host nation’s athletics lineup. The reigning Olympic women’s javelin champion is competing at the Asian Games for the first time.
After a disappointing outing at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Kitaguchi will look to deliver a strong performance in front of the home crowd in Nagoya.
Other prominent athletes scheduled to compete include Thailand’s Puripol Boonson, Singapore’s Shanti Pereira, Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba, India’s Avinash Sable, the Philippines’ EJ Obiena, and Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi.
Defending Asian Games Champions Return
Several athletes entering the competition are returning as defending Asian Games champions in their respective events.
Shanti Pereira will compete in the women’s 200 metres, while Abderrahman Samba is set to defend his title in the men’s 400m hurdles.
India’s Avinash Sable will compete in the men’s steeplechase, while EJ Obiena will return to the men’s pole vault. Winfred Yavi is also expected to defend her women’s steeplechase title.
Samba has placed particular focus on the Asian Games this season and chose not to compete at the recent World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
Javelin Competition to Feature Top Talent
The men’s javelin throw is also expected to attract considerable attention, with Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage among the athletes to watch.
Pathirage enters the competition with major international credentials, having won the Diamond League and Commonwealth Games titles in the event.
Asian Games Athletics Schedule
The athletics programme will run from September 23 through September 29, with track and field events taking place primarily at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya.
Fans can expect a packed schedule featuring sprint races, middle- and long-distance events, hurdles, steeplechase, jumps and throwing disciplines.
The competition will provide an opportunity for Asia’s established champions and emerging athletes to compete for medals on one of the continent’s biggest sporting stages.
With several defending champions and internationally recognised athletes in the field, the athletics programme is expected to be one of the highlights of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
