Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games Open in 2 Days: Korean Athletes Target Gold Over 7-Day Run

The opening of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, which will heat up Nagoya with the challenges and passion of Asian para-athletes, is now just two days away.

The Games will kick off a seven-day run starting with the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on the 18th at the Nagoya Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium and will run through the 24th.

The concept running through both the opening and closing ceremonies is "WABI" (We Are Beautiful Individuals).

Meaning "Each of us is a beautiful being," it conveys a message of coming together just as we are, transcending differences in disability, nationality, and culture.

The performances incorporate the nature, lifestyle, traditional festivals, and artisan craftsmanship of the Aichi region, and the cauldron was crafted together by citizens and artisans using soil from three local pottery-producing areas.

South Korea is sending a delegation of 357 people, including 214 athletes across all 18 events, aiming for more than 21 gold medals and a 6th-place finish overall in the tournament running through the 24th.

On the 19th, when serious medal competition begins, the delegation will look for its first gold shooting sounds at the shooting range.

Park Jin-ho (Gangneung City Hall) and Lee Jang-ho (Cheongju City Hall) will compete for gold in the men's 10m air rifle standing (sports class SH1).

Kim Mi-young (Incheon City Hall) and Lee Yoon-ri (Jeonnam Para Shooting Federation) in the women's 10m air rifle standing (SH1), and Seo Hoon-tae (Gyeonggi-do Paralympic Committee) in the mixed 10m air rifle standing (SH2) will aim for the top of the podium.

On the same day in cycling, Kim Jung-bin (Gyeonggi-do Para Cycling Federation) will compete for a gold-medal ride in the men's 4,000m individual pursuit (B).


On the 20th, star athletes in shooting, athletics, and table tennis will step up simultaneously to target gold medals.

Paris Paralympics gold medalist Cho Jung-du (BDH Paras) is aiming for his first Asian Para Games gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol (SH1).

Para-athletics athlete Jang Minho (Anyang City Hall) in the men's 100m (T13) and table tennis player Yoon Ji-yu (Seongnam City Hall) in the women's singles (class 3) will compete for medals.

Jang Minho returns to the Nagoya stage following the Asian Games, while Yoon Ji-yu aims for her second consecutive singles title.

On the 21st, good news is anticipated from boccia, taekwondo, and fencing.

Boccia player Choi Ye-jin (Seoul City Hall) will compete for the top spot in the women's individual event (BC3).

She has set out on this challenge to cap off her final stage alongside her mother and competition partner, Moon Woo-young, with a gold medal.

Taekwondo athlete Joo Jeong-hun (Chuncheon City Paralympic Committee) will compete for his second consecutive tournament title in the men's 80kg class (K44), and Paris Paralympics fencing silver medalist Kwon Hyo-kyung (Hongseong County Office) will also aim for the Asian summit in the women's epee individual event (A).

On the 22nd, Cho Jung-du will compete in the mixed 50m free pistol (SH1), and Kwon Hyo-kyung will join teammates to pursue a gold medal in the women's epee team event.

On the 23rd, Jang Minho will compete for a medal and a record break in the men's 400m (T13), and Yoon Ji-yu will eye additional medals in the women's doubles and mixed doubles.

The tournament, which will heat up Aichi and Nagoya, will bring its seven-day run to a close with the closing ceremony held at 6 p.m. on the 24th at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.