Aspetar, the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital based in Qatar, is leading the medical support effort for the Qatari delegation at the 20th Asian Games, taking place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026. The hospital has deployed a 28-member medical team to provide comprehensive healthcare services to Qatar’s athletes and officials participating in the event.
The Qatari medical contingent is composed of three sports medicine physicians, 15 physiotherapists, and 10 sports massage therapists, all operating under the direction of Dr. Adnan Saltani, a sports medicine physician serving as the chief medical officer for Qatar’s delegation. The team has established a fully equipped sports medicine clinic within the athletes’ accommodation village and has personnel stationed at various competition venues to ensure prompt and effective medical assistance.
Qatar’s delegation includes 427 individuals, among them 243 athletes—184 men and 59 women—who will compete across 26 sports disciplines spanning 32 events. Aspetar’s medical unit is tasked with delivering integrated services, including injury evaluation, management and rehabilitation, recovery and performance enhancement, as well as emergency medical care. Coordination with local Japanese healthcare providers is also a key component of their operation.
Further supporting athlete wellbeing, the medical staff is providing ongoing health monitoring, nutrition counseling, and anti-doping education to maintain compliance with competition regulations. Dr. Saltani emphasized that all athletes and participants are required to hold valid Anti-Doping Education and Learning (ADEL) certificates, and the team is ensuring adherence on-site. Their care extends beyond competition venues, with continuous medical support available at hotels to facilitate recovery and maintain readiness.
In preparation for the Games, Aspetar conducted comprehensive medical screenings and offered guidance on important factors such as sleep management, jet lag adaptation, and injury prevention to preserve athletes’ health leading up to competition.
Khaled Ali Al-Mawlawi, acting director general of Aspetar, highlighted the significance of the hospital’s involvement in the Asian Games, noting that the support reflects Qatar’s dedication to protecting the health and optimizing the performance of its athletes on the continental stage. Al-Mawlawi also pointed to the strategic importance of this experience in building medical expertise and infrastructure ahead of Doha’s role as host of the 2030 Asian Games, aiming to benefit future Qatari and regional athletes.