Doha, October 05 (QNA) - Qatar brought the curtain down on their campaign at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan, with a historic haul of 18 medals - six golds, six silvers and six bronzes - setting a new benchmark in the nation's history of appearances at the continental Games after surpassing their previous haul of 14 medals at Hangzhou 2022, held in 2023.

The phenomenal feat was the outgrowth of a strong and tremendous showing by the Qatari delegation, which comprised 243 athletes who competed across 26 sports and 32 disciplines at a Games that drew more than 17,000 athletes and officials.

Qatar had secured 16 medals before the final day - five golds, six silvers and five bronzes - before equestrian delivered another gold and bronze in individual show jumping, lifting their total to 18 medals.

Qatar had finished the 2018 Games with 13 medals, including six golds, four silvers and three bronzes. At Hangzhou 2022, their haul rose to 14 medals, with five golds, six silvers and three bronzes, as they continued to build on their medal tally from one edition to the next in Japan.

In Japan, Qatar did more than surpass their previous medal haul. They also recorded a string of historic and significant achievements, highlighted by a monumental gold in padel, which made its first appearance on the official Asian Games program.

The Qatari duo of Rashid Nawaf and Mishari Nawaf captured the gold medal after defeating Malaysia's Christian Chen and Aidan Yunos.

With that triumph, the Qatari pair became the first Asian Games champions in padel history, in the sport's debut on the official program, putting Qatar's name in the record books at the continental level.

Beach volleyball also wrote a new chapter in Qatar's success, with Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan retaining their gold medal for the third consecutive time.

  After winning gold at Jakarta and Palembang 2018 and then at Hangzhou 2022, the Qatari duo returned to the medal podium at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, beating Indonesia 2-1 in the final.

The victory underscored their continued strong presence on the Asian stage and delivered a historic third straight gold medal.

Shooting and athletics played a prominent role in Qatar's medal haul. Shooting made a tremendous showing as Qatar captured team and individual skeet gold, with the skeet team comprising Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, Rashid Saleh Al Athba and Ali Ahmed Al Ishaq. Al Athba also claimed individual gold, setting a new Asian record.

Shooting later added two silver medals in the team and mixed-team trap events, bringing their contribution to Qatar's haul to four medals.

In athletics, Bassem Mohammed captured the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 47.82 seconds, while Zakaria Ibrahim earned the bronze in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The Qatari team also added silver in the 4x400-meter relay, along with a bronze for Abubaker Abdulla in the 800 meters.

Qatar also secured medals in 3x3 basketball, handball, karate, weightlifting and wrestling, rounding out their phenomenal medal haul across the gamut of sports.

The Qatari campaign reached its peak on the final day of competition, when Qatar's riders entered the individual show-jumping arena seeking a fitting finale to a monumental Games.

Faleh Suweid Al Ajami came through with the gold medal, while Bassem Hassan Mohammed earned the bronze, making equestrian the perfect closing act for Qatar's campaign and lifting the Al Annabi's total to 18 medals - six golds, six silvers and six bronzes.

  The tremendous finish capped a broad Qatari participation in equestrian competition, spanning show jumping, dressage and eventing, with 12 male and female riders representing the equestrian delegation.

As the curtain comes down on the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, all eyes now turn to Doha, which is preparing to host the much-heralded 21st edition of the Asian Games in 2030, as Qatar's sports community returns from Japan with another historic haul.

From the historic padel gold and the beach volleyball three-peat to shooting and athletics golds and a golden equestrian finale, the message from Japan was unmistakable: Qatar aren't content simply to participate. They continue to deliver, make their mark and write their name in the history books on the Asian stage.

Head of Team Qatar's Media Delegation at the Asian Games, Abdullah Al Marri, said Qatar's media coverage of the continental event was delivered at an incredible level that best suited the scale of the Games, marked by diversity, comprehensive coverage and a high degree of professionalism.

Al Marri added that, from day one, the delegation was committed to providing comprehensive coverage that kept abreast of every competition and event, whether through live broadcasts, daily reports or interviews with champions. The coverage was diverse and showcased the modern face of the State of Qatar at the heart of Japan, he noted.

Al Marri pointed out that the conclusion of the Asian Games and Qatar's receipt of the Asian Games flag for 2030 represent a watershed moment in the nation's sporting journey, particularly as Doha has been preparing for a considerable time to host an extraordinary edition that will stand as a landmark in the annals of the continental Games.

Qatar's presentation during the closing ceremony at Mizuho Stadium captured attention in every detail, featuring the new Doha 2030 identity and the slogan, along with the participation of Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim and rider Jassim Al Kuwari, who recreated the historic 2006 moment, Al Marri recalled, affirming that the national anthem was also performed by artist Dana Al Meer.

Al Marri stressed that the media coverage followed the event moment by moment, noting that hosting major sporting events in Qatar and the region benefits not only athletes and fans but also helps make a giant leap forward across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, tourism, the economy and cultural promotion.

This makes sport a genuine driver of comprehensive development and an important component of Qatar National Vision 2030, while helping major sporting initiatives gain traction across the region, he suggested.

Al Marri further clarified that Doha has invariably stood out for its incredible organization of major sporting events, from the 2006 Asian Games and the 2022 FIFA World Cup to dozens of global competitions and has consistently delivered phenomenal editions that surpass expectations.

Plenty of major global events will also take place in Doha, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Volleyball World Championship, underscoring the tremendous importance of preparations ahead of 2030.

He heaped praise on the achievements of the Qatari delegation in Nagoya, asserting that the delegation achieved what it set out to accomplish and recorded 18 medals across various sports.

This achievement, Al Marri recognized, underscored the scale of the work and investment in Qatari champions and confirmed that Qatar was on the right track toward Doha 2030, where they will deliver on their promise to present the continent's fans with an edition that will have the world talking. (QNA)