Cricket Retained and MMA to Debut in 2026 Asian Games

Current Context: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed that cricket will be retained and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) will make its debut at the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

Key Highlights:

• Cricket's Fourth Appearance: Cricket was previously included in 2010, 2014, and 2023, with India winning gold medals in both men's and women's categories in the last edition.
• MMA's Debut: MMA will feature six medal events under the combat sports category, alongside kurash and jujitsu.
• Venue: Cricket matches will be held in Aichi Prefecture, though the exact location is yet to be finalized.
• Olympic Connection: Cricket's inclusion aligns with its return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking its first Olympic appearance since 1900.

Question:

Q.1 Which sport is making its debut at the 2026 Asian Games?
a) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
b) Cricket
c) Kabaddi
d) Baseball

Answer: a) MMA will debut at the 2026 Asian Games under the combat sports category with six medal events.