Twenty-one Vietnamese athletes will compete across five sports at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, as part of a 36-member delegation led by Nguyen Trong Ho, deputy director of the Vietnamese sports ministry, vietnam.vn reported. The delegation’s official arrival was marked by a flag-raising ceremony on the afternoon of October 16 at the Villas Garden Pier Athlete Plaza in Nagoya, prefectural Aichi.
The continental multi-sport event brings together approximately 3,000 athletes from 45 countries and territories to compete in 18 sports. For Vietnam, the roster of 21 competitors spans athletics, swimming, powerlifting, table tennis, and badminton, with powerlifting and swimming identified as the nation’s strongest medal prospects.
Flag-Raising Ceremony Marks Arrival in Nagoya
The national flag ceremony on October 16 formally established the delegation’s presence in Aichi Prefecture as athletes completed final preparations. Several teams immediately transitioned into preliminary rounds, with badminton and table tennis players opening their schedules on the day of the ceremony. Competition in those events continues through October 17 before a scheduled rest day, followed by matches running from October 19 through October 23.
🇮🇳 INDIA’S ASIAN PARA GAMES 2026 SQUAD: THE NUMBERS! 💪India will field 168 athletes across 11 sports at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from October 18–24.👨 112 male athletes👩 56 female athletes🏅 Para Athletics leads with 62 athletes, followed by Para Badminton with 28. pic.twitter.com/WWQeVyfcGT
Veteran powerlifter Le Van Cong will serve as the flag bearer for the delegation during the opening ceremony on October 18, leading the contingent into the venue. The assignment recognizes his sustained international record, which includes competition in the men’s up-to-49kg division.
The 2026 Games provide a platform for athletes with disabilities across Asia to secure continental titles and gain international experience. The competition environment in Nagoya follows the previous edition held in Hangzhou, China, in 2022.
Medal Contenders in Swimming and Powerlifting
Vietnam enters the Nagoya competition aiming to build on its performance from the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, where the delegation collected 20 medals consisting of 1 gold, 10 silver, and 9 bronze. The sole gold medal in Hangzhou was secured by swimmer Le Tien Dat in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB5 category.
Le Tien Dat returns to the team for the 2026 events, where he is expected to contend for medals alongside teammate Do Thanh Hai in the same 100-meter breaststroke SB5 classification. Vi Thi Hang rounds out the core swimming group, targeting strong placements in the 100-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly, and 50-meter freestyle events.
In powerlifting, Le Van Cong anchors the medal expectations in the men’s up-to-49kg category. The delegation’s broader roster covers five distinct sports disciplines, balancing experienced international competitors with athletes entering qualification brackets.
Competition Schedule Through October 23
Following the initial preliminary rounds on October 16 and 17, the schedule provides a pause in competition before matches resume on October 19. Events across the five sports will run continuously through October 23, marking the core window for medal decisions.
The tournament management continues to oversee preliminary brackets and training sessions across Nagoya venues ahead of the formal opening ceremony on October 18, where Le Van Cong will carry the national standard.
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