Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The 20th Asian Games concluded in Nagoya of Japan on Sunday evening with a ceremonial handover of the games flag to the next hosts, Qatar, during the grand closing ceremony .
The ceremony began with a march-past by athletes from 45 participating countries.
The 20th Asian Games organizers formally handed over the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) flag and the Olympic torch to the OCA. OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani then handed the flag to Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Qatar Prime Minister Al Thani then handed the flag to an unknown individual who entered the stadium on horseback. A video later showed the flag being taken to Qatar.
The 20th Asian Games formally concluded with a grand fireworks display and dance performances.
Qatar is hosting the 21st edition of the continental sporting event in 2030.
This will be Qatar’s second time hosting the Asian Games. It previously hosted the continental sporting event in Doha in 2006.
OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani expressed hope that the Asian Games would inspire young people across Asia.
“More than 350 records were set at the Asian Games, including more than 50 world records. Many teenage stars will emerge onto the world stage from this event,” he said during the closing ceremony. “I believe Asian Games athletes will become a source of inspiration for millions of young people,” he said.
OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani also thanked the organizers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Japanese government.
“We will return with the same enthusiasm four years from now. We are bringing these Games to a close today, but we (Asia) are coming onto the world sporting stage,” Thani said.
More than 17,000 athletes, coaches and officials participated in the Games. More than 10,000 athletes from 45 countries competed in 43 sports for 469 gold medals.
Nepal’s performance
Nepal secured two bronze medals at the 20th Asian Games.
Tenzing Sherpa got bronze in the men’s over-84 kg karate kumite category, while the women’s kabaddi team secured a bronze medal for their semifinal run.
The women’s kabaddi team had also secured bronze in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Nepal received two medals, one silver and one bronze, in the 2023 Asian Games. Arika Gurung, who won silver in women’s kumite 68 kg three years ago, failed to achieve a podium finish in Nagoya after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat against Kazakhstan’s Sofya Berlutseva.
Nepal came fourth among seven South Asian nations, above Bangladesh, which won one bronze, and Bhutan and Maldives. The latter two did not win any medal.
India, which finished fourth on the medal table with 21 gold, topped the South Asian medal table ahead of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
China tops medal table
China finished at the top of the medal table with a total of 341 medals. Chinese athletes secured 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze in Nagoya.
This is the 12th consecutive time in the Asian Games history that China topped the medal table.
Japan came second with a total of 269 medals – 83 gold, 95 silver and 91 bronze, while South Korea finished third with 150 medals – 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze.
