DHAKA, Sept 7, 2026 (BSS) — A total of 260 athletes and officials from Bangladesh are preparing to travel to Japan to participate in the 20th Asian Games 2026, scheduled to be held from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya.

Bangladesh is set to compete in 22 sports disciplines at the continental multisport extravaganza.

The disciplines are cricket, football, archery, athletics, boxing, kabaddi, hockey, shooting, swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics, karate, fencing, cycling, badminton, golf, surfing, jodo, table tennis, beach volleyball, wrestling and wushu.

Approximately 11,066 athletes from 45 Asian countries will compete in 43 disciplines and 469 events.

Of the 187 athletes representing Bangladesh, 90 are male and 97 are female. Among the coaches and officials, 61 are men and 12 are women.

This will be Japan's third time hosting the Asian Games. The previous editions held in Japan were in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.

At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, Bangladesh won two bronze medals, with the women's and men's cricket teams securing one each.

A press conference was held at the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) auditorium today to disclose details of Bangladesh's contingent and schedules for the upcoming Asian Games.

BOA Vice President and Chef de Mission of the Bangladesh contingent Major (retd) Imroze Ahmed briefed the media on the preparations and expectations of the Bangladesh teams.

”We have high hopes for kabaddi. We hope kabaddi will produce a good result. We can also expect good results in cricket and shooting. In archery, the best teams are in Asia. Our players showed extraordinary performances at the recent Archery Championship held here. We have many opportunities to achieve success at the Asian Games. A player just needs to perform at his or her best and deliver at the crucial moment to win a medal,” he said.

BOA member Brigadier General Humayun Kabir, also chairman of the Bangladesh Army Sports Control Board, will serve as the Deputy Chef de Mission.

During the opening ceremony march-past, national shooter Abdullah Hel Baki and karateka Humaira Akter Antara will carry the Bangladesh flag.

Bangladesh's 2026 Asian Games campaign will begin with the women's football event on September 14, four days before the official opening ceremony.

The women's cricket event will begin on September 17.

Athletes and officials from 11 disciplines -- archery, gymnastics, judo, kabaddi, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis, wushu -- will be accommodated on a cruise ship, while the remaining athletes and officials of other disciplines will stay at different hotels.

The women's football team will depart for Japan on September 11, followed by the women's cricket team on September 14.