Takumi Hojo wins men's triathlon to claim Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games' first gold

Japan’s Takumi Hojo clinched the first gold medal of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Gamagori on September 20, 2026, winning the men’s individual triathlon.

He completed the race in 52:56.

After exiting the swim fourth and the cycling leg fifth, Hojo surged ahead in the final 5km run to beat China’s Zhang Xirui by nine seconds. Kazakhstan’s Arlan Zhanabay took bronze, and Hojo’s victory gave the host nation an early boost.