Six young stars to watch in Aichi-Nagoya

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 18, 2026

The Asian Games, starting September 19 in Aichi-Nagoya, will feature rising young athletes like China’s swimmer Yu Zidi, Sri Lanka’s javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, and Japan’s gymnast Misa Nishiyama competing for continental honors. These athletes represent the next generation of talent poised to challenge established stars and potentially shape the future of Asian and global sports.

NAGOYA — The Asian Games, opening in Aichi-Nagoya on September 19, will showcase some of the continent’s most promising young athletes who are expected to make significant impacts across various disciplines.

Among the swimmers, China’s Yu Zidi, not yet 14 years old, stands out as the youngest World Championships medalist in history. She earned a bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay in 2025 and narrowly missed podium finishes in three individual events. In 2026, Yu notably defeated American Olympic champion Regan Smith in the 200m butterfly. She is set to compete in the 200m butterfly, as well as the 200m and 400m individual medleys.

In track and field, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has emerged as a leading contender in the javelin throw. The 23-year-old secured the Diamond League title and recorded a season-best 92.62 meters in Rome in June, followed by a 92.07-meter throw in Zurich in August, placing him among a select group of athletes to surpass 92 meters twice. He is expected to challenge Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the Asian record holder with 92.97 meters, though Nadeem has experienced a dip in form recently. India’s Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Asian Games champion, is sidelined due to injury and will not defend his title.

Japan’s Shin Ohashi, 17, has risen rapidly within the country’s swimming ranks. Specializing in breaststroke, Ohashi narrowly missed breaking the 200m world record held by China’s Qin Haiyang earlier this year, setting a junior world record and posting the fastest global time of 2026 to date. Ohashi and Qin are anticipated to face off again in Nagoya.

In cricket, India’s 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could be a key player in the men’s T20 campaign as India aims to retain its gold medal. Sooryavanshi impressed during the 2026 Indian Premier League with 776 runs and earned a spot on India’s England tour squad. He made a rapid impact in international cricket with a debut performance featuring two sixes and followed with a quick fifty against Zimbabwe, including an 81-run innings guiding India to victory.

Japan’s gymnastics hopes are buoyed by 16-year-old Misa Nishiyama, who transitioned successfully from junior to senior competition. The 2025 junior floor world champion captured the Japanese all-around title in April and claimed further gold at the NHK Trophy. Nishiyama has her sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming to end Japan’s women’s team’s long medal drought that dates back to 1964.

In tennis, Alexandra Eala of the Philippines has rapidly ascended the rankings, attaining a career-high world No. 18 this year. Eala secured her first WTA Tour title in Washington in August, defeating top players including world No. 3 Jessica Pegula and former major champions Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina. She will compete for Asian Games gold as she builds on her success, which includes a Southeast Asian Games gold in 2025 and a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.

The Games will bring together these rising stars as they pursue continental titles and, in many cases, lay foundations for future global success.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.