Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s 18-medal haul at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games reflected the country’s progress across a wider range of sports and provided an important step in the preparation for Doha 2030, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Secretary-General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said yesterday.
Al Buenain described Qatar’s participation as positive, stressing that the objective went beyond the medal tally and included preparing athletes and national teams for future competitions, particularly the 21st Asian Games in Doha in 2030.
“The participation was not solely aimed at achieving results or contending for medals. It was part of a strategic plan to prepare our national teams for upcoming events, foremost among them Doha 2030,” Al Buenain said.
Qatar improved on its 14-medal haul at Hangzhou 2023, winning six gold, six silver and six bronze medals across 10 sports in Aichi-Nagoya.
Rashed Nawaf and Mashari Nawaf made history by winning Qatar’s first Asian Games padel gold, while Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan retained their beach volleyball title for a third successive edition. Bassem Hemeida won the 400m hurdles gold, while shooting produced two gold medals through Rashid Saleh Al Athba’s individual skeet triumph and the men’s team title. Faleh Al Ajami then capped Qatar’s campaign with individual show jumping gold, while Bassem Mohammed added bronze.
Ouisal Ikhlef also created history by becoming the first female Qatari weightlifter to win an Asian Games medal, while wrestling and karate returned to the podium.
“Qatar successfully won medals across 10 different sports, securing a total of 18 medals. These results mark a milestone not seen since the 2010 Asian Games,” Al Buenain said.
He said the results reflected a deliberate approach of combining experienced athletes with emerging young talent, giving them exposure to major competitions as part of the long-term development plan.
Al Buenain also highlighted the performance of Qatar’s team sports, with handball, beach volleyball and 3x3 basketball all winning medals.
“These achievements reflect a broadening competitive base and the improved performance levels of various sports,” he said.
Beyond competition, Al Buenain pointed to the impact of Qatar House in Nagoya, which attracted around 5,000 visitors during the Games and showcased Qatar’s culture, heritage and identity.
He thanked the QOC delegation, national federations, administrative and media teams, as well as the Qatar House and Doha 2030 delegations.
“The assessment of Qatar’s participation goes beyond the medal tally. It also encompasses the experience gained by athletes, the emergence of promising young talent and the strengthening of Qatar’s sporting and cultural presence on the Asian stage,” he said.
