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Cricket Retained, MMA Set to Make Debut at 2026 Asian Games.

Sports | Dated: 03 May 2025

In April 2025, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), headquartered in Kuwait City (Kuwait), along with the Japan-based Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee (AINAGOC), officially confirmed the inclusion of Cricket and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in the 2026 Asian Games. The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The announcement was made during the 41st AINAGOC Board Meeting held at Nagoya City Hall, Japan.
  • - Cricket will make its fourth appearance at the Asian Games, following its participation in the 2010, 2014, and 2022 editions. The matches will be conducted in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format and hosted in Aichi Prefecture.
  • - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a full-contact combat sport combining techniques from various martial arts disciplines, will make its debut in the Asian Games. The sport will feature six medal events and will be part of the combat sports category, alongside kurash and jujitsu.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The return of cricket to the Asian Games reflects its growing global presence, particularly with its reintroduction into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, after being absent for 128 years.
  • (ii) The inclusion of cricket and MMA is expected to strengthen South Asian rivalries and significantly enhance India's medal prospects, especially in MMA, with rising stars such as Anshul Jubli and Pooja Tomar gaining international recognition.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which sport was recently confirmed to make its debut at the 2026 Asian Games?

Correct Answer: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

🚀 Quick Recap: