The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced, on Tuesday, that cricket and MMA have been confirmed for the 2026 edition of the Asian Games, set to be held in Japan next year in September-October. A press note on OCA’s official website said that cricket and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are set to be included in the competition. “The latest development in the compilation of the sports programme came at the 41st meeting of the AINAGOC Board of Directors at Nagoya City Hall on Monday, April 28, when cricket and Mixed Martial Arts were both formally approved,” the OCA’s press release stated. “The venue for cricket will be in Aichi prefecture, but the exact location has not been decided. Interest will be high, not only because of cricket’s popularity in South Asia in particular but also because the T20 (20 overs per side) format will be included in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. This will be cricket’s first appearance in the Olympics since 1900 in Paris, where Great Britain beat France by 158 runs in the final of the two-team tournament,” it added. In a landmark move, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) will make its debut at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The sport will feature six events under the combat sports category, marking a triumph for MMA’s prolonged battle for legitimacy. MMA is an ever-growing segment in India, with two fighters — Anshul Jubli and Pooja Tomar — making their way to the cash-rich Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), opening doors for many aspiring fighters. Cricket has already been a part of the Asian Games, having been part of the 2010, 2014, and 2022 editions. The 2022 edition of the competition saw India participating and winning the gold medal, featuring multiple Indian stars like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal among others in men’s cricket. India also took home the gold in the women’s competition, with Sri Lanka getting silver and Bangladesh getting bronze. Cricket is also set to return to the Olympic fold at LA 2028 after more than a century. The sport’s solitary appearance was at Paris 1900, with Great Britain beating France in a Test match to win the gold medal. (with agency inputs)