Captain of the national women's cricket team Fatima Sana and rising squash player Noor Zaman led Pakistan's delegation at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games 2026 at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Japan on Saturday. A total of 246 athletes from 23 different disciplines, including cricket, squash, hockey, athletics and esports, will represent Pakistan at the Games, which will run until October 4, according to the Pakistan Olympic Association.

The 20th Asian Games opened with a message of unity following a troubled build-up to the multi-sport spectacular that has more athletes than the Olympics. There were however a large number of empty seats at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Nagoya, where a subdued crowd saw a colourful opening ceremony with the main stage in the shape of a giant heart.

Japan's Emperor and Empress were given a respectful reception as they took their seats, with International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry also in attendance. The first gold medal will be won on Sunday morning, likely in the men's individual triathlon, as the continent's finest athletes compete in more than 40 sports before the curtain comes down on October 4.

The event in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs in seven sports and will be graced by global stars and fast-rising prodigies. But it has been dogged by a series of problems in the lead-up, testing the resilience of athletes and organisers alike as competitions officially get underway.