20th Asian Games close in Nagoya; China tops gold medal table
In short
The 20th Asian Games closed on 4 October in Nagoya, Japan, with China News Service reporting the closing took place in the evening at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Aichi Prefecture. Yicai, Xinhua and Jiemian reported that China's delegation again finished first on the gold medal table. Jiemian, citing CCTV News, said China won 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze, and that Xinhua described the gold total as a record high for China at an Asian Games held abroad.
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The 20th Asian Games closed on 4 October in Nagoya, Japan, according to reports from China News Service, Xinhua, Yicai and Jiemian. China News Service said the Games closed in the evening local time at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 ]
China's delegation again finished first on the gold medal table, Yicai reported, and Xinhua said the gold tally was a record high for China at an Asian Games held abroad. Jiemian, citing CCTV News, said China competed in 38 sports, 59 disciplines and 369 events, winning 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze — 341 medals in total — to top both the gold and overall medal tables. Jiemian added, citing the same source, that the result further consolidated China's competitive-sports lead in Asia. [ 5 , 6 , 8 ]
Jiemian, citing CCTV News, said the closing ceremony was held in the afternoon of 4 October and lasted about 90 minutes, and that athletes of the various delegations entered the stadium mixed rather than in national groups. The report said China's flag bearer was men's windsurfing athlete Bi Kun, who successfully defended his title in the men's hydrofoil windsurfing event. [ 6 ]
The documents differ on the timing of the close: Jiemian, citing CCTV News, placed the ceremony in the afternoon, while China News Service reported that the Games closed in the evening local time, without reconciling the two. Xinhua also reported the closing ceremony was held in Nagoya. [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]
Why it matters
The closing ends the 20th edition of Asia's largest multi-sport event, hosted in Nagoya. Chinese outlets framed the result around the national delegation: Jiemian, citing CCTV News, said the gold total was a record for China at an overseas Asian Games and further consolidated China's competitive-sports lead in Asia. Beyond the region, the documents give no basis for wider significance.
Key facts
- The 20th Asian Games closed on 4 October in Nagoya, Japan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 ]
- China's delegation retained first place on both the gold medal table and the overall medal table. [ 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- China won 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze — 341 medals in total, according to Jiemian, citing CCTV News. [ 6 ]
- The Chinese delegation competed in 38 sports, 59 disciplines and 369 events, Jiemian reported, citing CCTV News. [ 6 ]
- Men's windsurfing athlete Bi Kun was China's flag bearer at the closing ceremony after defending his title in the men's hydrofoil windsurfing event, according to Jiemian, citing CCTV News. [ 6 ]
- At the closing ceremony athletes entered the stadium mixed rather than in national groups, and the ceremony lasted about 90 minutes, Jiemian reported, citing CCTV News. [ 6 ]
- China News Service said the Games closed the evening of 4 October at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. [ 9 ]
- Xinhua reported China's gold tally was a record high for its participation in an Asian Games held abroad. [ 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The 20th Asian Games closed in Nagoya, Japan, on 4 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- China's delegation finished first on the gold medal table. [ 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- China's gold total was a record high for China at an Asian Games held abroad. [ 6 , 8 ]
- The closing ceremony was held in Nagoya. [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- The time of day of the closing ceremony: Jiemian, citing CCTV News, said it was held on the afternoon of 4 October and lasted about 90 minutes, while China News Service said the Games closed in the evening local time. The two documents state different times of day and neither reconciles the other.
- The detailed medal breakdown of 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze, and the participation figures of 38 sports, 59 disciplines and 369 events. These figures appear in only one document, Jiemian's report citing CCTV News; no other document in the set gives the numbers.
- The closing ceremony programme, including the mixed athlete entry and the flag bearer's name. Single-source detail from Jiemian's report citing CCTV News; it is not repeated by any other document.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- China News Service reports that the 20th Asian Games have closed in Nagoya, Japan. [ 1 ]
- Yicai reports the Games closed and that China's delegation again topped the gold medal table. [ 5 ]
- Jiemian, citing CCTV News, reports the closing ceremony was held in Nagoya that afternoon, lasted about 90 minutes, and gives China's medal and participation figures. [ 6 ]
- Xinhua reports the closing and that China's gold count was a record for an overseas Asian Games. [ 8 ]
- China News Service reports from Nagoya that the Games closed the evening of 4 October at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. [ 9 ]