Kuwait officially marked the participation of its sports delegation in the 20th Asian Games with a flag-raising ceremony held on September 16 at the Olympic Village in Nagoya, Japan. The Games are scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
The event was attended by key figures from Kuwait’s sports leadership, including retired Major General Mohammed Al-Khalfan, Director General of the Kuwait Olympic Committee and head of the delegation; Deputy head Dr. Hussein Al-Saeed; and Financial Director Mohammed Atef, alongside members of the delegation and representatives from various sports federations.
During the ceremony, the Kuwaiti national anthem was played as the flag was raised, symbolizing national pride and unity among the athletes ahead of the continent’s largest sporting event. In a statement, Al-Khalfan described the occasion as a moment of pride for the delegation and praised the committee’s efforts in preparing and supporting the athletes. He highlighted the extensive months of coordination with relevant national sports federations to ensure technical and physical readiness, as well as to provide necessary logistical and administrative support.
Al-Khalfan emphasized that Kuwait’s objectives extend beyond mere participation, aiming to achieve results that reflect the progress of Kuwaiti sports and strengthen the country’s standing in Asia’s competitive arena. He specifically mentioned the modern pentathlon team, which includes athletes Rataj Abdulhussain and Habari Al-Thuwaini who are competing in the women’s individual semifinals, comprising fencing, obstacle course, swimming, and the laser run. Both athletes are focused on advancing to the final stages of the competition.
In taekwondo, athlete Zaid Eidan will begin participation in the men’s singles qualifiers, aiming to progress to the later rounds. Meanwhile, the men’s doubles team, comprised of Basil Ahmed and Abdulwahab Al-Qattan, will also compete in qualifiers with hopes of moving forward in the tournament.
Nasser Al-Waleed, president of the Kuwait Modern Pentathlon Club, noted that the national team’s presence at the Games is the result of qualifying positions earned at last year’s Asian Championships in Japan. Kuwait secured three qualifying spots—two for women and one for men—for the pentathlon event. He remarked that the competition features 36 athletes from 14 countries and that the format requires participants to begin directly at the semifinal stage.
Al-Waleed confirmed that in the fencing preliminaries, competitor Mohammed Al-Suhai bi will represent Kuwait in the men’s category, with Habari Al-Thuwaini and Rataj Abdulhussain competing in the women’s events. He conveyed confidence in the athletes’ capabilities and readiness, expressing optimism about their chances to advance and represent Kuwait strongly throughout the Games.