Nagoya:The 20th Asian Games concluded in the central Japanese city of Nagoya on Sunday, celebrating the achievements of athletes, supporters, and volunteers in this significant continental competition. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the third to be hosted by Japan, faced ongoing criticism concerning issues such as inadequate accommodations for athletes and transportation problems. Events were conducted across Aichi and even beyond the prefecture, utilizing existing and revamped venues to manage costs. Over the 16-day event, approximately 10,000 athletes and officials from 45 nations competed for 469 gold medals across 43 sports and 71 disciplines, under the theme "Imagine One Asia." China dominated the medal tally with 169 golds and a total of 341 medals. Japan achieved a record with 83 gold medals, while South Korea secured the third spot with 39 gold, 43 silver, and 68 bronze medals. Sport climber Seo Chae-hyun, a gold and bronze medalist, carried South Korea's flag during the athletes' parade. The next Asian Games will be held in Doha, Qatar, marking the second time the city has hosted the event since 2006. The Asian Games, which began in 1951, have typically been held in even-numbered years, except for the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Doha organizers have expressed willingness to delay the event to 2031 if the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) opts to hold it a year before the Olympics, allowing the Games to serve as Olympic qualifiers for Asia.