Tokyo, Japan, September 19, 2026: History-making teenager Yu Zidi will be among the headline acts as China look to continue their dominance in the pool when the swimming events at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 begin at Tokyo Aquatic Center on Sunday.
The 13-year-old Yu, who last year became the youngest medallist ever at the world championships when she was part of the 4x200m freestyle relay team that won bronze in Singapore, lines up in a star-studded squad that will be favourites to dominate in the water.
Zhang Yufei, winner of six gold medals in Hangzhou, and Qin Haiyang, who claimed five titles at the 2022 event, both return after being named the Asian Games MVP in the women’s and men’s events respectively for their exemplary efforts last time out.
Hangzhou also marked the arrival on the Asian stage of Pan Zhanle, when he went close to breaking the world record in the men’s 100m freestyle, and the 22-year-old arrives in Japan with that mark now firmly under his belt.
The Wenzhou-native shattered the previous best to win gold at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 and, although he has yet to come close to hitting similar heights this season, Pan will go into the blue ribband event as favourite to retain the title he won last time around.
Chinese swimmers claimed 62 of the 129 medals available when the country hosted the Asian Games in Hangzhou, with their 30 golds taking the nation to the top of the table, well clear of second placed Korea with the Japanese in third.
But the Chinese will not expect to have everything their own way in Tokyo, with the hosts determined to put a dent in their visitors’ aspirations.
World record holder Qin Haiyang will go into the 200 metre breaststroke needing to keep an eye on 17-year-old Shin Ohashi, who has set himself the target of breaking the Chinese swimmer’s global mark having impressed already throughout 2026.
And,while the home fans will be cheering on the returning Rikako Ikee, winner of six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, the host country’s strongest hopes will likely come in the shape of Tomoyuki Matsushita.
The 21-year-old took the silver medal in the 400m individual medley at the 2024 Olympic Games behind the all-conquering Leon Marchand and has improved since, setting a new Asian record as he registered the fourth fastest time in history earlier this month.
Siobhan Haughey, meanwhile, will be looking to add to her Asian Games haul after the Hong Kong China swimmer and four-time Olympic medallist claimed gold in the 100 and 200 metres freestyle in Hangzhou.