Laos Aims for Historic First Gold at 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

 

Laos Aims for Historic First Gold at 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

September 21, 2026 — Laos has arrived in Japan with its sights set on history as the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 officially opened this week.

A record 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions are competing from September 19 to October 4, 2026 in 469 events across 43 sports. Laos is among the nations welcomed early into the Athletes' Village.

On September 18, the Team Welcome Ceremony was held at the Athletes' Plaza, Garden Pier in Nagoya. Laos was welcomed alongside Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Tajikistan and Vietnam, as well as the OCA Refugee Team, with flag-raising and national anthems symbolizing the start of the Games. 

Leading the Lao PDR contingent was Asian Games medallist Koi Xavong, who carried the national flag at the opening ceremony — a moment highlighted by organizers as "Asian Games medallist Koi Xavong carries Lao PDR flag" for the 20th Asian Games.

A Nation Chasing Gold

Laos first competed at the Asian Games in 1974 and has steadily built its presence. Its all-time tally stands at 18 medals — 0 Gold, 4 Silver, 14 Bronze — ranked 39th overall. 

The country's strongest sports remain:

• Sepak Takraw - 6 medals (2 silver, 4 bronze) 
• Wushu - 7 medals 
• Pencak Silat, Boxing, Karate and Petanque

In 2026, Laos is competing across both traditional and new sports — including football (drawn in the group stage running September 15-24), soft tennis men's team, boxing with 33 NOCs participating, teqball, and esports, where Laos is one of 23 nations fielding a team.

The early action has already seen Laos in play: India's men's soft tennis team faced Laos in Group C on opening day, and in other preliminary rounds opponents have faced Laos' athletes in teqball and table tennis.

Hope in Petanque and Sepak Takraw

Officials from the National Olympic Committee of Lao are banking on Petanque — a sport with deep roots in Laos — and Sepak Takraw to break the gold drought. Laos won 3 bronze medals at Hangzhou 2022, and the federation believes the improved preparation in Nagoya could push them to the final.

"We have waited since 1974 for that first gold. The spirit in the village is high. Our athletes know they carry the hopes of 7 million people," a Lao official said during the welcome ceremony week.

The 20th Asian Games will run until October 4, with Laos' medal events in sepak takraw, petanque, wushu and boxing scheduled for the second week.

For Laos, Nagoya is not just another Games — it is a chance to move from bronze and silver to gold.