Representative image© AFP
Tokyo:
Cricket has been confirmed for the 2026 edition of the Asian Games to be held in Japan next year in September-October, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced on Tuesday. A press note on the official website of OCA states that cricket and mixed martial arts (MMA) are ready to participate in the competition. The press note said, “The latest development in the compilation of the sports program came to the 41st meeting of the Annagock Board of Directors at Nagoya City Hall on Monday, April 28, when both cricket and mixed martial arts were formally approved,” said the press note.
“The site for cricket will be in Achi province, but the exact location has not been decided. Interest will be high, not only the popularity of cricket in South Asia, especially but T20 (20 overs per side) format will be included in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. The two-team tournament,” it was added.
Cricket has been a part of the Asian Games for 2010, 2014 and 2022 editions. It became a medal game in 2010, in which gold was brought to Bangladesh and the silver in the action of Afghanistan. Pakistan received a bronze medal. During the 2014 edition in Incheon, Sri Lanka captured gold, Afghanistan got silver, while Bangladesh took bronze home. Pakistan won a gold medal in women’s cricket in women’s cricket competition in both sports.
In India and won the gold medal in the 2022 edition of the competition, in which T20 stars like Ruturaj Gikwad, Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma and Yashsvi Jaiswal were seen among others in men’s cricket. Afghanistan once again received silver, while Bangladesh took home. India also took gold in women’s competition, in which Sri Lanka got silver and bronze in Bangladesh.
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