Saudi Arabia announces 144 athletes for Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee has announced its participation in the Nagoya 2026 Asian Games with a delegation of 144 athletes competing across 19 sports. To optimize performance and medal potential, the committee has established new selection criteria: athletes must rank among the top eight in Asia for individual sports and the top four for team sports to qualify.

CEO and Secretary-General Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Baeshen identified 11 specific sports targeted for podium success: athletics, judo, taekwondo, karate, jiu-jitsu, swimming, weightlifting, shooting, equestrianism, fencing, and wrestling. This strategy follows international models where a small number of sports account for the majority of a nation's medals.

To support this elite development, the committee is launching a sports scholarship initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Education, providing 50 annual scholarships to top athletes for study at accredited international sports universities. Additionally, the committee is expanding its infrastructure through the establishment of several elite training centers across the Kingdom, including specialized combat sports centers in Jeddah and Riyadh, and athletics centers in Bisha and Jazan.