Nagoya: The 20th edition of the Asian Games commenced with a vibrant display of hospitality in Nagoya, where athletes from 45 nations gathered for Asia's largest sporting event. The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games marks the third instance of Japan hosting the event, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. While Nagoya serves as the primary host, several events are distributed across Aichi, with swimming taking place in Tokyo and some football matches set in Osaka and Shizuoka.

According to Yonhap News Agency, under the theme "Imagine One Asia," the games feature 469 gold medals across 43 sports and 71 disciplines until October 4. The opening ceremony, held at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, was orchestrated by filmmaker Yukihiko Tsutsumi and themed "Harmonic Heart Beat," symbolizing the unity of athletes across the continent. The ceremony emphasized Nagoya's spirit of hospitality, with the stage designed as a large heart.

Athletes paraded in the order of the English alphabet, with South Korea entering 16th. The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee reports that South Korea is participating in 41 sports, excluding cricket and padel, with a contingent of 1,051 athletes and officials. Notably, table tennis star Shin Yu-bin and rower Kim Dong-yong were the nation's flag bearers. Shin, a multi-medalist, is expected to compete in various events, while Kim, a seasoned athlete, aims for a medal in rowing.

South Korea aims to secure approximately 45 gold medals, aspiring to surpass Japan, which claimed 52 gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games, trailing behind China. As the competition unfolds, South Korea is poised to compete for gold in modern pentathlon and teqball and face Japan in men's basketball. The swimming events commence in Tokyo, featuring South Korea's Hwang Sun-woo and Kim Young-beom in the men's 100-meter freestyle.