dexinwin NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 18, 2026— China’s shooting team will not attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with the long distance between the team’s hotel and the ceremony venue cited as the main reason.
The 20th Asian Games are scheduled to officially open in Nagoya on Sept. 19. According to a report by Beijing Youth Daily, China’s shooting team decided to remain at its accommodation rather than make the long trip to the opening ceremony. The team will begin competition in its events from Sept. 20.
Long Journey Between Accommodation and Venues
The Chinese shooting delegation arrived in Nagoya several days before the Games and has been conducting venue familiarization and training.
Reports said the team’s official hotel is also located a considerable distance from the shooting venue, with the journey taking at least about 1.5 hours one way. The shooting range is a new competition venue for the Chinese team, which had not previously trained or competed there.
With transportation time an important consideration during the competition period, the team has focused on adapting to the venue and maintaining its preparation schedule.
The decision not to attend the opening ceremony is therefore primarily related to logistics. Reports also said the team will leave Japan soon after completing its events and will consequently not attend the closing ceremony either.
Focus Shifts to Competition
The Chinese shooting team is scheduled to begin competition on Sept. 20, one day after the opening ceremony.
The squad includes several Olympic champions and experienced international competitors, including Sheng Lihao, Zhang Changhong, Xie Yu, Liu Yukun and Jiang Ranxin. Young shooter Wang Zifei is also among the athletes selected for the Asian Games.
The team has gone through a systematic preparation and selection process ahead of the Games. In Nagoya, athletes have been using the days before competition to become familiar with the unfamiliar range and competition environment.
According to reports, the team has described the athletes' overall condition as stable and is preparing for the start of competition.
A Different Accommodation Arrangement
Accommodation and transportation have been notable issues at this year's Asian Games because organizers did not establish a conventional single athletes' village for all competitors.
Instead, athletes are being accommodated in a combination of hotels, temporary facilities and a cruise ship. The cruise ship at Kinjo Pier is hosting thousands of athletes, while other teams are staying at hotels across the region.
Reports have highlighted the travel distances between some accommodation sites and competition venues. For example, athletes staying at the cruise ship have faced journeys of more than an hour to reach some venues, depending on traffic conditions.
For a sport such as shooting, where concentration, recovery and competition preparation are important parts of the daily schedule, the Chinese team has opted to limit unnecessary travel around the opening ceremony.
Preparation Continues Beyond the Asian Games
The Chinese shooting team's schedule extends beyond the Asian Games. After the competition in Japan, the team is expected to return to China and continue preparations for the upcoming world championships.
Skipping the opening ceremony therefore does not indicate a withdrawal from the Asian Games. Instead, the shooting team remains focused on its scheduled competitions while managing travel and preparation requirements.
As the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games officially begin, the Chinese shooting team will turn its attention from venue adaptation to competition, with its first events scheduled to get underway on Sept. 20.
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