India-Pakistan matches set viewership records at Asian Games

The Asian Olympic Council (OCA) reported that the men's cricket final and men's hockey semifinal between India and Pakistan were the most-watched matches in the history of the Asian Games.

In the cricket final, India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to secure the gold medal. The match featured a high-stakes atmosphere, with expectations of political tension and a lack of traditional post-match handshakes between players, a trend noted during previous competitions. India's squad included experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah, led by captain Shreyas Iyer and interim coach VVS Laxman, while Pakistan was led by Sahibzada Farhan.

In the hockey competition, India defeated Pakistan 4-3 in a record-breaking semifinal before going on to win the gold medal against Malaysia.

Despite the viewership success, the Nagoya games faced criticism regarding logistics. Organizers opted to use hotels, temporary containers, and a cruise ship for housing 17,000 participants instead of a traditional athletes' village to reduce costs. OCA coordination committee chairman Tayyab Ikram acknowledged the logistical challenges and complaints but maintained that the organizers provided a high-quality environment for the athletes.