Coming just two years before the Olympics, the Asian Games (beginning on November 12) have always been seen as a “midterm test” for both Olympic medal hopefuls and potential stars of the future looking to make their mark (see box). For the more established names, this year’s Asian Games may be their last chance to complete a full set of major championship medals (see box). From a sports perspective, The Asian Games features some of the biggest names at world level in events like table tennis, badminton and diving. More than this, the Games are, according to Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia, “a symbol of unity for a region inhabited by more than two-thirds of the world’s population”.