Judoka Yeldos Smetov and table tennis player Sarvinoz Mirkadirova will carry Kazakhstan's flag at the 2026 Summer Asian Games in Japan, the press service of the Sports Development Directorate said, according to infohub.kz. The announcement was made by Ayan Tolegen, head of the directorate's press service.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov presented the national flag to the athletes. The official send-off ceremony for the national team was held in Astana. Many Kazakh athletes are already in Japan, which is hosting the Asian Games.
Yeldos Smetov is the most decorated judoka in the country's history, with a complete set of Olympic medals: gold at Paris 2024, silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020. In 2014 he won the Asian Games in Incheon. At the upcoming tournament, the 34-year-old Smetov will compete in the under-60 kg weight category.
Sarvinoz Mirkadirova is 21 years old. She is one of the leaders of Kazakhstan's table tennis team and a winner and medalist of international tournaments.
The opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games will take place on September 19. The competition will run until October 4. Athletes will compete for a total of 469 medal sets.