More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will take part in the major sporting event in Nagoya. China is the clear favorite. At the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, Chinese athletes won 201 gold medals, finishing first in the overall standings by a wide margin. In this 1xBet review, we take a look at the sports in which athletes from other countries could challenge China.

Football

In the world’s most popular sport, China is a serious force in Asia, but other teams are considered the main favorites. Defending champion South Korea holds the record for the most Asian Games titles and could claim its seventh gold medal. Japan is another contender, while Uzbekistan, with a particularly strong generation of young players, could emerge as the main dark horse.

In the women’s tournament, Japan deserves special attention after cruising to a 4-1 victory over North Korea in the Hangzhou Games final. These teams could meet again in the decisive match.

Cricket

India dominates this spectacular and dynamic sport, having won in both men’s and women’s tournaments at the 2022 Asian Games. Pakistan, rather than China, is capable of challenging India. The Chinese women’s team has little realistic chance of winning gold, while the men’s team will not compete at all.

Martial arts

Chinese athletes are strong in wrestling and nearly untouchable in wushu, but they aren’t the favorites in other disciplines. Japan traditionally dominates karate and judo and will compete for a significant share of the 30 gold medals on offer. South Korea has historically been the leading force in taekwondo, while Uzbekistan is among the favorites in several boxing weight classes.

Archery

South Korea boasts the world’s best archers, led by world-class star Kim Woo-jin. The experienced 34-year-old has won five Olympic gold medals and three Asian Games titles.

Field hockey 

In the men’s tournament, Indian players are the most skillful with the stick and are the reigning Asian Games champions. Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea could challenge them.

In the women’s tournament, China is considered the dominant force. The team won gold on home soil at the last Asian Games and will be looking to repeat that success in Nagoya.

Although China is not the strongest in every sport, its athletes remain the leading contenders to top the medal count. The Chinese dominate some track and field events, swimming, and diving, and are particularly impressive in table tennis and badminton.

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