Saudi Arabia Names 144 Athletes for Asian Games 2026

Saudi Arabia will be represented by a delegation of 144 athletes competing in 19 disciplines at the 20th Asian Games, set to take place in Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026.

The line-up spans a wide range of sports, including athletics, 5×5 basketball, boxing, equestrian, esports, fencing, football, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, mixed martial arts, padel, shooting, squash, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling.

Eleven of these have been named as priority sports with clear podium targets: athletics, judo, taekwondo, karate, jujitsu, swimming, weightlifting, shooting, equestrian, fencing, and wrestling.

A striking feature of the delegation is its youthful profile, with around 48% of the 144 athletes aged under 23 — a signal of the growing investment in developing the next generation of Saudi talent. Selection was based on technical criteria, requiring individual athletes to rank within the top eight in Asia and teams to place within the top four.

Why it matters

The Asian Games are among the largest multi-sport events in the world, offering Saudi athletes a major stage to test themselves against the continent's strongest competitors. Ahead of the Games, the delegation is scheduled to travel to a preparatory training camp in Fuji, Japan, on 29 August 2026, giving athletes time to acclimatize and fine-tune their form before competition begins.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving