HANGZHOU: Chinese President Xi Jinping officially inaugurated the highly anticipated Asian Games in a grand ceremony that witnessed a record athlete turnout, surpassing even the Olympics in terms of participants.
Originally postponed for a year due to China’s stringent zero-Covid measures, the event has attracted more than 12,000 participants representing 45 nations and territories from Asia and the Middle East. These athletes have converged on the eastern city of Hangzhou to compete in an impressive array of 40 different sports.
The Asian Games, a significant sporting extravaganza, is poised to serve as China’s post-pandemic showcase of soft power. It drew political and business leaders from across Asia who graced the fully-packed stadium, as noted by Jung-Woo Lee, a sport policy expert at the University of Edinburgh.
However, the Games have encountered a dispute between Beijing and New Delhi, leading India’s sports minister to cancel his trip to Hangzhou. The disagreement arose when three female martial arts fighters from the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh claimed they were denied accreditation, a contention disputed by China, which refers to Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet.”
The event signifies China’s resurgence as a sporting hub after grappling with the effects of the pandemic, which led to the cancellation of most international events in the country over three years.
Host nation China is strongly favored to lead the medals tally, boasting a nearly 900-member delegation. Japan and South Korea are expected to vie for second place, adding to the competitive spirit of the Games.
North Korea has made a return to the global sporting arena after almost three years of isolation, marking a significant development.
Competitions will span various sports, ranging from athletics, swimming, and football to unique regional specialties such as dragon boat racing, Chinese martial arts (wushu), and kabaddi, a popular contact sport on the Indian subcontinent.
Competitions in Asian Games
Notably, nine sports, including boxing, breakdancing, and tennis, will serve as Asia qualifiers for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The participation of world and Olympic champions adds to the excitement, featuring athletes like India’s Neeraj Chopra in javelin, Qatari high jumper Mutaz Barshim, and Chinese swimming sensations Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei.
Wei Jizhong, honorary life vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, emphasized the Games’ inclusivity, stating that “We are open to all. This means our Games are not concentrated only for elite sportspeople.” He highlighted that when athletes from developing countries win medals, it brings joy, government support, and the growth of sports in their nations.
At the heart of the event is the “Big Lotus” Olympic stadium, capable of holding up to 80,000 spectators, where athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies will captivate the audience.
In an eco-friendly opening ceremony, laser shows and augmented reality technology replaced traditional fireworks, culminating in the first-ever digital lighting of the torch. The ceremony was attended by foreign dignitaries, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, along with President Xi Jinping.
The South Korean delegation, led by flag bearers fencer Gu Bon-gil and swimmer Kim Seo-yeong, was the 16th to march into the stadium. With a record delegation comprising over a thousand athletes and officials, South Korea aims to secure over 50 gold medals and achieve an overall third-place finish in the medal count.
The Games are expected to witness the awarding of the first gold medals on Sunday, with podium-topping finishes anticipated in various sports by the end of the event, including high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok and swimmer Hwang Sun-woo. Additionally, South Korea seeks to excel in board games like Go and esports, which makes its first appearance at the Asian Games. North Korea, marking its return to the international sporting arena, has also sent a 185-member squad to compete in 18 sports, including football and weightlifting.
