'Japan Starts with First Gold' Hojo Wins, 1st Gold Medal at AG... Korea Wins No Medals in Individual Events [Nagoya AG]

[Financial News] Host nation Japan took home the first gold medal of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Japan's Takumi Hojo was the first to cross the finish line in the men's individual triathlon, becoming the winner of the tournament's 'first gold medal.'
Hojo took the top spot in the men's individual final held at the Gamagori Triathlon Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 20th, recording a time of 52 minutes and 56 seconds.
The margin was just 9 seconds over China's Zhang Xirui (53 minutes and 5 seconds), who won the silver medal. Kazakhstan's Arlan Zhanabay won the bronze medal in 53 minutes and 11 seconds.
The men's individual triathlon, which began at 8:30 a.m. that day, was the first event in which a medal was decided at these Games. Host nation Japan thus claimed the first gold medal of the entire tournament on home soil.
Korea failed to reach the podium. Sangmin Park finished 12th in 55 minutes and 20 seconds, 2 minutes and 24 seconds behind leader Hojo. Kim Tae-gi, who also competed, placed 15th in 56 minutes and 16 seconds.
No medals were won in the women's individual event that followed. Jeong Hye-rim finished sixth in 59 minutes and 24 seconds, while Kim Hye-rang placed 11th in 1 hour, 1 minute and 50 seconds.
The women's gold medal went to China's Lin Xinyu, who crossed the finish line in 57 minutes and 37 seconds. After finishing both individual events without a medal, Korea's triathlon team will make another attempt in the mixed team event on the 21st.

[email protected] Kim Hyun-jung Reporter