China reign supreme as 20th Asian Games conclude; Pakistan slump to 29th
China reign supreme as 20th Asian Games conclude; Pakistan slump to 29th
By Nawaz Gohar ; The 20th Asian Games drew to a colorful close in Nagoya, Japan, following 15 days of top-tier continental competition. Powerhouse China once again proved untouchable atop the leaderboard, leaving the rest of Asia trailing in their wake.
China sealed first place on the medal tally with a towering collection of 341 medals, including 169 gold, 89 silver, and 83 bronze. Hosts Japan secured second place with 83 gold medals, while South Korea rounded out the top three with 39 gold medals.
Regional competitors India produced an impressive display, taking fourth spot overall with 85 medals (21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze) — highlighted by historic double gold-medal victories in both cricket and field hockey.
For Pakistan, the Nagoya Games delivered one of the most disappointing outings in the nation’s sporting history. Finishing in 29th position, Pakistan failed to capture a single gold medal throughout the entire fortnight.
Pakistan’s total tally stood at 10 medals — 2 silver and 8 bronze.
Silver Medals: Secured in cricket, where Pakistan suffered a tight 19-run defeat against arch-rivals India in the gold-medal match.
Bronze Medals: Claimed across combat sports and traditional strength events, including Kabaddi, Wrestling, Karate, and Weightlifting.
The tally leaves Pakistan trailing significantly behind smaller contingents, including Sri Lanka and Myanmar, both of which managed to secure gold medals. The performance has intensified calls for structural reforms within national sports federations to address systemic neglect and poor preparation.
