Organizers of the Asian Games faced significant scheduling challenges on the ninth day of competition as persistent rainfall disrupted several events. Sports including tennis, surfing, and cricket were notably affected by the poor weather conditions at the multi-sport event largely centered in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Both men’s cricket quarterfinal matches, featuring Pakistan versus Hong Kong and India against Afghanistan, were washed out after the Korogi Athletic Park playing field was soaked by heavy rain. With no allowance for rescheduling, the tournament rules based on team rankings resulted in Pakistan and India advancing to the semifinals of the T20 cricket competition.

The outcome was particularly difficult for Afghanistan, which had hoped to compete for the gold medal. The team was reminded of a similar situation three years earlier at the Hangzhou Games when rain forced the cancellation of the cricket final, handing the gold to India under the same ranking rule. Afghanistan opener Mohammed Akram expressed disappointment, saying players were in good form and eager to play, but the weather conditions prevented the matches from taking place.

Japan’s weather complications stemmed from Typhoon Surigae, which struck the southern Okinawa prefecture and was forecasted to move northeast toward central Japan and the Tokyo region by midweek. This development raised concerns about the potential for additional strong winds and heavy rainfall that could further affect the Games’ schedule.

Earlier in the competition, Typhoon Dujuan had impacted the event during the first week, leading to the suspension of equestrian events in Tokyo. Despite this, most other competitions continued without interruption.

The Asian Games are primarily hosted in Nagoya and surrounding areas of Aichi Prefecture, with select events taking place elsewhere, including diving competitions in Tokyo and football matches in Osaka. Officials continue to monitor the weather closely as they work to manage the complex logistics of the multi-venue tournament amid the ongoing threat of severe weather conditions.