Cricket retained for 2026 Asian Games, MMA to make its debut

The Olympic Council of Asia has formally approved the inclusion of cricket and mixed martial arts for the Asian Games 2026. 

The Asian Games 2026 are scheduled to be held in Japan’s Aichi and Nagoya prefectures from September 19 to October 4.

The games will feature 41 sports and 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 National Olympic Committees. 

During a meeting between the Olympic Council and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organizing committee, cricket and mixed martial arts were formally approved, a release from the council confirmed. MMA will make its Asian Games debut with six events under Combat Sports alongside kurash and jujitsu.

Cricket’s venue will be located in Aichi prefecture, with the T20 format generating particular interest due to its upcoming inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

This marks cricket’s first Olympic appearance since 1900 in Paris, where Great Britain defeated France. 

South Asian teams have dominated cricket in past Asian Games. 

Bangladesh had won men’s gold in 2010, Sri Lanka in 2014, and India in 2022. Afghanistan earned silver medals in all three editions. India also won gold in women’s cricket in 2022, while Pakistan topped the women’s podium in both 2010 and 2014.