In an interview with the Choson Sinbo, a pro-Pyongyang mouthpiece in Japan on Tuesday, Ko Chol-ho, a senior sports official with North Korea's National Olympic Committee, said Pyongyang hopes its athletes will win more medals than they did at the previous Asian Games, despite sending a smaller delegation and competing in fewer disciplines.
North Korea fielded about 185 athletes in 18 disciplines at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, which were delayed until September 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The country won 11 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze medals at the quadrennial event.
Meanwhile, South Korea plans to send about 1,100 athletes to compete in 41 disciplines at the 20th Asian Games, which will bring together more than 15,000 participants from 45 countries.
This year's Asian Games will kick off with an opening ceremony on Sept. 19, with Nagoya serving as the main host city. However, competitions will be held at multiple venues in and around Aichi Prefecture as well as in other cities including Shizuoka and Tokyo.
AJP Takeaways
• North Korea is expected to send about 100 athletes to the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, competing in fewer disciplines than the 185 athletes it fielded in 18 disciplines at the 2022 Hangzhou Games.
• North Korea won 39 medals at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, including 11 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze medals, and now hopes to improve its medal haul with a smaller delegation.
• The 2026 Asian Games will be held from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 in Japan, with Nagoya as the main host city and competitions also taking place in Aichi Prefecture, Shizuoka and Tokyo; South Korea plans to send about 1,100 athletes in 41 disciplines.
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