Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games feature MMA debut and table tennis success

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 feature significant milestones in combat sports and table tennis. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) made its debut as an official competition event, with 22 participating nations competing in both 'traditional' and 'modern' styles. Satoru Sayama, recognized by the Japanese Olympic Committee as the 'ancestor' of MMA for his role in developing the sport and inventing open-finger gloves, expressed deep emotion regarding the sport's inclusion in the games.

In table tennis, held at Sky Hall Toyota, the Japanese men's team secured a gold medal by defeating China 3-2, marking their first such victory in 60 years. Other notable performances include the women's team earning a silver medal, and athletes Miwa Harimoto and Tomokazu Harimoto/Daito Shinozuka advancing to medal contention in singles and doubles events respectively. The table tennis competition is scheduled to continue through September 28, with broadcasts available via TBS and streaming through U-NEXT.