Representation image© AFP
Tokyo:
Cricket was confirmed for the 2026 edition of Asian Games to be held in Japan next year in September-October, the Asia Olympic Council (OCA) announced on Tuesday. A press note on the official OCA website said that cricket and mixed martial arts (MMA) should be included in the competition. “The last development of the compilation of the sports program occurred at the 41st meeting of the Ainagoc Board of Directors at the Nagoya City Hall on Monday, April 28, when cricket and mixed martial arts were both formally approved,” said the press note.
“The place of cricket will be in the prefecture of Aichi, but the exact location has not been decided. The interest will be high, not only because of the popularity of cricket in South Asia in particular, but also in the T20 format (20 Overs per side) will be included in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. Tournament with two teams,” he added.
Cricket is one of Asian games for 2010, 2014 and 2022 editions. It became a medal sport in 2010, Bangladesh obtaining gold and Afghanistan bringing money in the action of men. Pakistan obtained the bronze medal. During the 2014 edition in Incheon, Sri Lanka captured gold, Afghanistan obtained money while Bangladesh brought bronze. Pakistan won the gold medal in female cricket in the female cricket competition in two games.
The 2022 edition of the competition saw India participate and winning the gold medal, featuring T20 stars like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma and Yashasvi Jaiswal among others in male cricket. Afghanistan has again obtained money while Bangladesh has brought money home. India has also brought gold back into female competition, Sri Lanka obtaining money and Bangladesh having bronze.
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