📅 Last Updated: April 30, 2026 · Verified by the SuperAce88 editorial team
The Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games — held in September and October 2023 after a one-year COVID-related delay — remain one of the most memorable multi-sport events in recent Asian history. For Filipino fans, it delivered gold medals, breakthrough athletes, and a glimpse of the country’s emerging strength in both traditional and non-traditional disciplines. This is the SuperAce88 editorial team’s retrospective on what Hangzhou 2023 delivered and what it set up for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Hangzhou 2023 at a Glance
- Host — Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Dates — 23 September to 8 October 2023 (delayed from 2022)
- Participants — 45 National Olympic Committees, over 12,000 athletes
- Sports — 40 sports across 61 disciplines, including esports as a medal event for the first time
- Top of medal table — China dominated the standings with over 200 gold medals
Philippines at Hangzhou 2023
Team Pilipinas delivered a headline-making performance. The four-gold haul — the country’s best Asian Games total since 1962 — came from a balanced group of athletes across martial arts, weightlifting, and traditional sports. Dozens of silver and bronze medals padded the count, and multiple Filipino athletes posted personal bests en route.
Gold Medal Highlights
- Women’s boxing — dominant performance with historic finishes delivering multiple medals.
- Weightlifting — continued the post-Tokyo momentum started by Hidilyn Diaz in Philippine strength sports.
- Jiu-jitsu — an emerging discipline where Filipino athletes competed at the podium.
- Golf and athletics — strong placements that positioned the country for Paris 2024 Olympic qualification.
Standout Stories from the Games
Hangzhou 2023 produced more than medal-table statistics. It was the first Asian Games where esports medalled for gold — Dota 2, League of Legends, and mobile titles all featured, and Philippine esports teams competed on the same institutional stage as traditional athletes. The Games also showcased the depth of young talent emerging through Southeast Asia, with several Filipino athletes signalling that Paris 2024 Olympic qualification was in reach.
What Hangzhou Set Up for the Future
The gap between Hangzhou 2023 and Paris 2024 was short, and the athletes who peaked in China carried that form into the Olympic qualifiers and, in several cases, to the Paris Games themselves. Hangzhou also served as a proof of concept for how the Philippines could field competitive rosters in non-traditional disciplines — esports, jiu-jitsu, and women’s boxing among them.
Looking Ahead to Aichi-Nagoya 2026
The next Asian Games are scheduled for Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, later in 2026. With Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 in the rear-view mirror, the Filipino delegation is expected to continue building on the depth demonstrated at Hangzhou. Boxing, weightlifting, and esports remain the highest-probability medal categories, and several new faces have emerged through the UAAP, collegiate athletics, and the national training pools since 2023.
Asian Games FAQ
When were the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games held?
From 23 September to 8 October 2023, delayed one year from the originally scheduled 2022 dates due to the pandemic.
How many gold medals did the Philippines win?
The Philippines secured four gold medals at Hangzhou — the country’s strongest Asian Games gold haul in decades, with medals spread across multiple disciplines.
Was esports a medal sport at Hangzhou 2023?
Yes. Hangzhou 2023 was the first Asian Games where esports awarded gold medals, featuring titles such as Dota 2, League of Legends, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
Where are the next Asian Games?
The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled for Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with subsequent editions rotating among Asian host cities.
