Nagoya Asian Games conclude with China winning 169 gold medals amid athlete controversies

The Nagoya Asian Games concluded on the evening of October 4, with the Chinese delegation securing 169 gold medals, 89 silver medals, and 83 bronze medals for a total of 341 podium finishes. While the medal count marked China’s twelfth consecutive top finish in the gold medal standings and set a new record for gold medals won outside the country, local reporting highlighted a stark divide between the official numbers and the individual controversies, injuries, and emotional moments on the ground.

Tang Jing Is Disqualified for Biting Rin Maeda

On October 1, during the women’s 70-kilogram judo quarterfinals, 31-year-old Chinese veteran Tang Jing faced 21-year-old Japanese competitor Rin Maeda. During a ground-grappling sequence where Tang was in a disadvantaged position, she bit Maeda’s left arm. Following Maeda’s appeal to the officials and a review of slow-motion replay, the referee ruled Tang Hansoku-make (disqualification), resulting in an immediate exit from the match. Japanese media outlets subsequently reported on the incident and pursued Tang for comment, to which she replied No before departing without participating in the repechage round to contest a bronze medal.

Asian Games 2026: Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to conclude as Japan secures its most golds ever.

Wang Chuqin Suffers Losses After Physical Depletion

In table tennis, Wang Chuqin finished the tournament without a gold medal after reaching three finals. Wang and Sun Yingsha subsequently lost 0–4 to Lin Shidong and Kuai Man in the mixed doubles final, and Wang was defeated 0–4 by Lin Shidong in the men’s singles final. Following the matches, Wang stated that after the World Championships and World Cup, he had experienced continuous physical and mental depletion and struggled to enjoy competing.

Wu Yanni Wins Bronze While Lin Yuwei Struggles

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles final on September 27, Wu Yanni clocked 13.12 seconds to claim the bronze medal, three years after being disqualified for a false start at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Defending champion Lin Yuwei, who battled hamstring strains, sciatic pain, and double-knee meniscus tears during the Nagoya cycle, competed in the event while managing severe knee pain. Lin took three painkillers before the preliminary heat and four before the final, crossing the finish line in 13.47 seconds for seventh place.

Chen Yujie Breaks Record as Ge Manqi Is Injured

Defending women’s 100-meter champion Ge Manqi suffered a left thigh muscle strain during the back half of her preliminary heat, finishing in 12.13 seconds and missing advancement before being removed from the venue in a wheelchair, which prevented her from contesting the 200-meter and 4×100-meter relay events. In men’s tennis, Wu Yibing competed through a cold with nasal congestion and throat pain to reach the singles final, where he lost 2–6, 4–6 to Hong Kong’s Huang Zelin. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Chen Yujie won the women’s 100-meter final in 11.06 seconds to break a 24-year-old Asian Games record, added a silver in the 200-meter event, and contributed to gold medal performances in both the women’s 4×100-meter relay and the mixed 4×100-meter relay.