Asian Games 2026 – Day 9 Report: China strengthens dominance, Korea and Thailand shine, India adds seven medals

 

The ninth day of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on September 27 produced another busy schedule across athletics, table tennis, baseball, handball, equestrian, diving, squash and several other disciplines. China continued to dominate the overall competition, while Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Thailand remained among the leading medal-winning nations. India also enjoyed a productive day, collecting seven medals, although none of them was gold. 

China remained comfortably ahead at the top of the standings and had another highly successful day. In athletics, 18-year-old Yan Ziyi won the women's javelin gold with a remarkable Asian Games record of 70.46 metres, while in table tennis Wang Manyu defeated compatriot Sun Yingsha 4-2 in an all-Chinese women's singles final. China also won the men's doubles title through Huang Youzheng and Lin Shidong, who defeated Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto and Hiroto Shinozuka 4-2. China finished the day with 119 gold, 48 silver and 38 bronze medals, 205 in total. 

Japan, the host nation, remained second in the medal standings. Its athletes featured prominently in several finals, including athletics, diving, table tennis and baseball. Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto and Hiroto Shinozuka took silver in men's table-tennis doubles, while Haruka Kitaguchi won silver behind China's Yan Ziyi in the women's javelin with 62.70m. Japan also finished with 37 gold, 62 silver and 58 bronze medals for 157 overall at the end of the day. 

South Korea enjoyed a particularly successful day in team sports. Its baseball team defeated hosts Japan 3-1 in the men's final to secure a fifth consecutive Asian Games baseball gold medal. Kim Do-yeong produced the decisive RBI in the eighth inning after Japan had levelled the contest. South Korea also won the women's handball gold, defeating Japan 27-23, while Nam Dong-heon captured gold in individual dressage with 75.190 points. Korea ended the day with 21 gold, 23 silver and 39 bronze medals, 83 overall. 

Uzbekistan continued to occupy fourth position with a strong overall performance across combat sports, athletics and other disciplines. The country finished the day with 10 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals, giving it 38 medals overall. Uzbekistan also featured prominently in boxing, with its fighters remaining involved in the medal rounds. One development involving the country was outside the competition itself: MMA bronze medallist Nodirbek Shavkatov was provisionally suspended after a positive meldonium test, with the status of his medal still subject to the relevant process. 

Kazakhstan maintained fifth place and added an important historic achievement through Yasmina Toxanbayeva, who won the inaugural women's marathon race-walk gold at the Asian Games. The 21-year-old completed the 42.195km event in 3:22:22, becoming the first Asian Games champion in the newly introduced discipline. Kazakhstan stood at 9 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze medals, 40 in total at the end of Day 9. �

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Thailand also produced one of Day 9's outstanding individual performances through sprinter Puripol Boonson. The 20-year-old won the men's 200m gold in 19.88 seconds, equalling the Asian record and completing the sprint double after his earlier victory in the 100m. China's Huang Youwen took silver in 20.45 seconds and Japan's Soshi Mizukubo bronze in 20.56. Thailand ended the day with 9 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze medals, 26 overall. 

India enjoyed a seven-medal day, collecting four silver and three bronze medals. In squash, Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh both won silver after losing their respective singles finals to Malaysia's Ng Eain Yow and Sivasangari Subramaniam. Athletics produced another five medals: Ancy Sojan won silver in the women's long jump, Sarvesh Kushare took silver in men's high jump, while Tejaswin Shankar won bronze in the decathlon, Parul Chaudhary bronze in the women's 3000m steeplechase and Harita Bhadra bronze in the women's 200m. The day also saw India receive further boxing medal assurances, with Parveen Hooda, Ankush Panghal and Narender progressing to the semifinals. 

At the end of Day 9, China led the overall medal table with 119 gold, 48 silver and 38 bronze — 205 medals. Japan followed with 37 gold, 62 silver and 58 bronze — 157, while South Korea had 21 gold, 23 silver and 39 bronze — 83. Uzbekistan stood fourth with 10 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze — 38, Kazakhstan fifth with 9 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze — 40, and Thailand sixth with 9 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze — 26. India was 12th with 4 gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze, for 37 medals overall.