Japan Secures Historic Sepaktakraw Gold and Record Medal Count at Asian Games in Nagoya

Japan surpassed its 60-year-old Asian Games gold medal record on Saturday at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, capturing 78 titles — eclipsing the previous high set in Bangkok. The milestone was sealed by breakthrough victories in sepaktakraw and debutant padel, alongside traditional strongholds in judo and breaking, as the 16-day quadrennial multi-sport event drew toward its Sunday closing ceremony.

Japan Defeats Indonesia in Men’s Quadrant Sepaktakraw Final

In the men’s quadrant final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Japan defeated Indonesia 2-1 to claim the country’s first-ever gold medal in sepaktakraw. The fast-paced sport, which originates in Southeast Asia, requires two competing teams to use their feet, knees, and chests to propel a synthetic rattan ball across a net on a badminton-style court.

Regional powerhouse Singapore bowed out during the group stage after dropping straight-set decisions to South Korea, Indonesia, and Japan. Meanwhile, Vietnam captured the women’s quadrant gold medal by defeating Thailand 2-1.

“This gold medal is a result that everyone involved in Japanese sepaktakraw has been hoping for,” Japan coach Takeshi Terashima said. “I am truly delighted that we were able to achieve it at the Asian Games held right here in Japan.”

Padel Debuts with Women’s Pairs Gold for Japan

Beyond traditional disciplines, the Games marked the official introduction of padel to the Asian Games program. Saki Tsukamoto and Kae Tokumoto seized the opportunity by defeating Indonesia’s Fadona Kusumawati and Fitriani Sabatini in the women’s pairs final. Padel allows players to play the ball off the reinforced glass and wire-mesh walls surrounding the court enclosure.

Japan Wins Gold in Judo, Breaking and Sailing

The host nation also reinforced its dominance in established events. In judo, the Japanese mixed team swept through the bracket, defeating Kazakhstan 4-0 in the gold medal match. In breaking, Shigeyuki Nakarai — competing under the alias B-boy Shigekix — successfully defended his title by overcoming South Korea’s Kim Hong Yul, known as Hongten, in the B-Boys final.

Additional gold medals came on the water, where Misaki Tsunomori and Riho Sanematsu won the youth mixed dinghy sailing event. In archery, Junya Nakanishi earned a silver medal in the men’s individual recurve competition, an achievement that successfully secured a quota spot for Japan at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Closing Events in Nagoya

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games featured athletes competing across 43 sports during the 16-day competition. The event marked the third time Japan has hosted the summer edition of the Asian Games. Organizers scheduled the closing ceremony for Sunday, marking the official end of the competition window.