Qatar beat Iran in men’s basketball as Asian Games begin in Japan

The Asian Games have begun in Japan, with Qatar securing a victory over Iran in men’s basketball as several sports started ahead of the official opening ceremony.

Qatar defeated Iran 59-35 in their Group B match at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya on Thursday.

Qatar Starts Basketball Campaign with Victory

Qatar controlled the Group B encounter and held off Iran’s efforts to mount a comeback.

Michael Lewis led Qatar’s scoring with 21 points. The US-born player said the team needed to secure at least one win to advance to the next round and welcomed the renewed team spirit following the opening victory.

The men’s basketball competition will continue through the medal finals on September 20, one day after the Asian Games opening ceremony.

Later in Group B, Taiwan defeated Jordan 83-80.

Asian Games Officially Open on September 19

More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected to participate in 43 sports at the Nagoya-Aichi Asian Games.

Although the Games will officially begin with the opening ceremony on September 19, several competitions have started early. These include basketball, football, cricket, hockey and modern pentathlon.

The event will run until October 4.

The Asian Games also offer athletes opportunities to secure qualification spots for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in several sports.

The continental multisport event has returned to Japan for the first time since 1994, bringing athletes from across Asia together for competition in Nagoya and Aichi.

Athletes to Stay in Diverse Accommodation

Organisers are aiming to provide athletes with a “unique experience” through a range of accommodation options.

These include a cruise liner, wooden container-style accommodation and conventional hotel rooms.

Officials have also expressed confidence that Japan’s typhoon season will not significantly disrupt the Games, although weather has already created challenges.

Record rainfall in Japan two days earlier temporarily forced hundreds of athletes to evacuate their accommodation.

Rainwater also entered some competition venues, while further wet weather has been forecast for the coming days.

Young Stars Set to Feature

Several prominent young athletes are among those competing at the Games.

They include Philippine tennis player Alexandra Eala, 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, who are expected to attract attention during the competition.