Host nation Japan won the first gold medal of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Sunday morning as Takumi Hojo (JPN) powered to victory in the men’s individual triathlon at Gamagori City Triathlon Venue.
The Asian Games, as well as the other Continental Games, award also a direct qualification spot for the LA28 Olympic Games, which will be allocated to the first athlete in the final results of the individual race whose country has not yet qualified an athlete by any other means.
Hojo had won the men’s race at the test event for Aichi-Nagoya 2026 a year ago but had been struggling for consistency since winning relay gold for Japan at Hangzhou 2022.
But after exiting the water in fourth position and the bike section in fifth, he broke clear on the run to win by nine seconds ahead of Xirui Zhang (CHN) in second.
“I was really fired up – even the rain held off, and I was in top form right up until I stood on the starting line,” Hojo said.
“I’d planned to attack using my strengths right until the end. I’m not very good at making that ‘spark’ in my style, so I really have no choice but to compete based on the fundamentals of racing.
“As it’s our first gold medal, it’s given the Japanese team a real boost, and we’ve managed to pass the baton on to the women and our teammates for the relay.”
Silver medallist Zhang, said: “It’s all about the training. If you train you succeed. The intensity of the race is far greater than that of training, so I feel I gave it my all in the end.”
Arlan Zhanabay (KAZ) claimed the bronze, a further six seconds behind Zhang.
“I’m very proud because I’m only 20 and it’s my first medal at the Asian Games,” Zhanabay said.
“I didn’t have a good form in the race, because I had to turn a lot, I had to pedal a lot, and that’s why my legs got very tired before running. But the preparation was very good, so even though it was a hard race. I managed to do it.”
Junjie Fan (CHN) can normally rely on his swim but was down in fifth on leaving the warm waters of Mikawa Bay and was unable to make up any further ground on the leaders.
Aleksandr Kurishov (UZB) was first out of the water but faded on bike and run to finish 20th.
