AICHI-NAGOYA, September 20. /Dunyo IA/. The 20th Asian Games have officially begun in the Japanese cities of Aichi and Nagoya, with Uzbekistan represented by 396 athletes competing in 42 sports, reports a Dunyo IA correspondent.

The 16-day competition brings together more than 11,000 participants from 45 Asian countries, who will compete for medals in 43 sports. The opening ceremony was held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.

Uzbekistan’s flag was carried during the athletes’ parade by world boxing champion Turabek Khabibullaev and Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games fencing champion Gulistan Perdebayeva.

The Uzbek delegation comprises 224 men and 172 women. The athletes will compete in 36 Olympic and six non-Olympic sports.

The Asian Games will serve as one of the stages of preparation for Uzbek athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Olympic qualification spots will also be at stake in certain disciplines.

On the first day of competition, Uzbek athletes will compete in MMA, triathlon, cycling, shooting, modern pentathlon, field hockey, beach volleyball, karate, table tennis, handball, water polo and wushu.

In triathlon, Jeremy Quindos and Aleksandr Kurishov will compete for medals in the men’s event, while Alina Khakimova and Diana Bektimirova will represent Uzbekistan in the women’s event. In cycling, Yanina Kuskova and Nikita Tsvetkov will compete in individual events.

In team sports, the women’s field hockey team will face India, while the men’s team will play Malaysia. Uzbekistan’s table tennis teams will face Japan, the women’s handball team will also take on Japan, and the water polo team will meet China.

In karate, Uzbekistan will be represented by Khumoyunmirzo Khalimov, Mekhriddin Turakhonov and Bonu Egamberdieva. In wushu, Farogat Nurmamatova, Avazbek Makhamadjonov and Doniyor Turgunboev will compete for the country.