Doha, August 30 (QNA) - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) announced that Qatar will send a delegation of 243 athletes to the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Japan's Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya from September 19 to October 4.
During a press conference, the QOC detailed that the Qatari delegation will total 427 members. This includes 243 athletes - 184 men and 59 women - alongside 142 technical and administrative staff, 23 members of the administrative delegation, and 16 media delegates.
Qatar is set to compete across 26 sports and 32 disciplines represented by 18 national sports federations, with high expectations of achieving strong results to bolster the nation's standing on the continental stage.
The sports disciplines include athletics, football, basketball, 3x3 basketball, handball, volleyball, beach volleyball, squash, padel, taekwondo, judo, artistic gymnastics, golf, shooting, swimming, jiu-jitsu, e-sports, sailing, equestrianism, karate, fencing, archery, wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, and table tennis.
To support the delegation, the QOC unveiled the "Mirqab" platform, a digital portal designed to provide comprehensive coverage of Qatar's participation, news updates, information, and services throughout the Games. Additionally, a Qatari hospitality house will be established to showcase Qatari culture and heritage.
The 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, represent a key preparation event for Qatari athletes ahead of upcoming competitions, foremost among them the 2030 Asian Games in Doha, which Qatar is preparing to host.
Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture will host the Games, with some competitions also taking place in neighboring areas in Gifu, Shizuoka, Osaka and Tokyo prefectures.
Ahmed Youssef Al Darwish, head of the administrative delegation of the Qatari contingent participating in the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, said preparations had been carried out as required, noting that preparations began immediately after the conclusion of the previous edition, which was held in China.
Al Darwish said a large working team had been formed to oversee the various details related to Qatar's participation, in coordination with the sports federations, with the aim of providing the best possible conditions for the athletes and delegations and achieving the highest level of success. He stressed that the primary objective was to ensure a distinguished showing for Qatar.
At the end of these Games, attention will turn to Doha, which will host the next edition of the Asian Games in 2030. Therefore, participation in Aichi-Nagoya represents an important milestone, not only at the sporting level but also in terms of preparations for the next hosting, he said.
He noted that Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will feature extensive participation across 41 sports and 68 disciplines, with a total of 460 events taking place at 53 competition venues and 75 training venues. The Qatari delegation, he said, will seek to benefit from the experience in all aspects.
Regarding women's participation, he said Qatari female athletes account for about 31 percent of the total number of participating athletes, describing the figure as a positive indicator that reflects the development of women's participation in Qatari sport and their growing presence across different sports. 

For her part, Iman Al Emadi, deputy head of the administrative delegation of the Qatari contingent participating in the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, expressed hope that the Qatari delegation would make its best showing during the Games.
Al Emadi said the delegation had been in contact with all participating Qatari sports federations and had worked to prepare and finalize various matters related to the delegation, including logistical arrangements and preparations, to ensure the best possible conditions for male and female athletes throughout the competitions.
The deputy head of the administrative delegation highlighted the importance of women's participation in the Qatari delegation, stressing that Qatari female athletes would play an important role during the Games. She expressed hope that they would contribute to winning medals and raising Qatar's flag high at the Asian sporting event.
For his part, Abdullah Mohammed Al Marri, head of the Qatari delegation's media committee, emphasized that Qatar's participation in the tournament represents an important milestone and a final test before the State of Qatar hosts the next edition of the Asian Games in Doha in 2030.
Al Marri said that the "Aichi-Nagoya 2026" Games represent an important opportunity to enhance Qatar's sporting presence, provide an avenue for athletes to compete against the strongest Asian athletes, and win medals to achieve results that reflect the level of development witnessed by Qatari sports across various disciplines.
He explained that the QOC is keen, concurrently with its participation in the tournament, to establish the Qatari hospitality house "Bayt Qatar," as one of the initiatives that the committee is accustomed to organizing during major sports tournaments and events, with the aim of introducing and spreading Qatari culture and presenting a comprehensive picture of the State of Qatar and the important events and occurrences it witnesses.
He pointed out that "Bayt Qatar" will begin operations starting September 19, coinciding with the launch of the Asian Games, and will continue until the end of the tournament on October 4, serving as a window for communication with delegations and fans and an introduction to the State of Qatar and its culture.
He noted that "Bayt Qatar" will also witness celebrations honoring Qatari male and female champions who achieve accomplishments during the tournament's competitions, in appreciation of the levels and results they deliver, and to shed light on the achievements of Qatari sports in this Asian gathering.
For his part, Naji Al Omari, a member of the administrative delegation for the Qatari team, affirmed that the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games represent a major milestone for Qatari sports, pointing to the keenness to appear in a manner that reflects the development witnessed by sports in the State of Qatar.
Al Omari said that work was carried out to provide all specific requirements for the delegation by equipping hotels and transportation means and completing various logistical arrangements, to ensure the delegation's readiness throughout the tournament period. He noted that the goal of these preparations is to provide a suitable atmosphere for male and female athletes, enabling them to focus entirely on their competitions, present their best levels, and achieve the desired results. (QNA)