Flag-bearers Lovlina Borgohain and Harmanpreet Singh lead the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, in Hangzhou, China, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (PTI Photo)Opening Ceremony of Asian Games 2023 Highlights: Blending elements of artificial intelligence and environmentally friendly technology, the Hangzhou Asian Games began here on Saturday with a one-of-a-kind opening ceremony, headlined by a spectacular futuristic light show. The dazzling programme, held amid a diplomatic row over the denial of entry to three Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh, was a melange of technology, cultural history of China, and the spirit of the continent’s unity.
In keeping with the main theme of ‘Tides Surging in Asia’, the ceremony was about the intermingling of China, Asia and the world in the new era, as well as the unity, love and friendship of the Asian people. The water element through the surging tide of Qiantang river — which flows through Hangzhou — was the underlying theme of the grand evening which lasted nearly two hours.
While we build up to the Opening Ceremony, you can read our best stories on the Asian Games. You can also read the dispatches our man on the ground in Hangzhou, Mihir Vasavda, has been sending us from China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the Games open as more than 12,000 athletes from 45 countries gear up to fight for top honours till October 8. The Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) acting president Randhir Singh, International Olympic Committee (IOC) head Thomas Bach, heads of several countries, officials of National Olympic Committees and host of other dignitary were present on the occasion.
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. (PTI)
After a host of performances, the torch has been lit and different athletes parade in the middle with it.
Next, the Games mascots are projected on the ground as the spectacular light show continues with terrific use of 3D technology.
A dance show with light effects are up next which highlights the heritage of the host country as well as showcasing its rich art form.
Badminton player Zheng Si Wei was part of the oath-taking ceremony just now. Here's a story by Shivani Naik from earlier in the year about how he is at the forefront of Chinese shuttlers learning English to communicate better.
"‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S!’ Zheng Si Wei, the world’s best mixed doubles shuttler exclaims, grinning about catching up on the series from a decade back, now that he’s well versed with English. “I also carry an English-only music album and keep listening to it," he adds." (READ MORE)
Two Chinese athletes take the oath and after that a video representing the culture of China is played on screen.
The crowd is requested to stand up as the OCA flag is hoisted.
And with that, the President of the People's Republic Of China Xi Jinping declares the 19th Asian Games open!!!
OCA acting president Randhir Singh will now address the crowd. He talks mainly in English thanking everyone while using a few Chinese phrases which draws huge cheers from the crowd.
“On behalf of OCA, I would like to say how proud and happy we are. Heart to heart @ future, this is not only the slogan for Asian Games but also the future of Asia. To the spectators and people of Hangzhou, Xie Xie for your hospitality and warm welcome," he said.
Gao Zhidan, the president of Asian Games organising committee with a speech.
The host nation is out last to deafening cheers from the home crowd for the most successful country in the history of the Asian Games.
After India, the contingents of Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore make their way on to the stage.
China comes out to large cheers, followed by our Indian flagbearers boxer Lovlina Borgohain and hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh
Here we go with the athletes parade. And it's Afghanistan that starts us off!! Interestingly their contingent arrived in China from different locations.
130 male athletes came from Afghanistan itself.
17 women came from different parts of the world.
A group of personnel marches into the arena holding the Chinese flag up high as the choir sings the Chinese national anthem in the background. Now, as the flag is erected, the national anthem is reverberated across the stadium to loud cheers.
The first performance is called Water in Autumn Glow. That will be followed by the entry of the national flag of China.
The Water in Autumn Glow performance is supposed to highlight China's technological advancement -- the eco-friendly tech and the advent of artificial intelligence -- while also giving a slice of its history.
The stadium is bathed in blue before turning into a red glow as Chinese premier Xi Jinping walks out to wild cheering from the local fans.
On a damp, overcast day, the ‘Big Lotus’, or the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, blooms bright. Its shape inspired by ancient silk texture and its weaving patterns, the 81,000-seater coliseum stands tall, despite being surrounded by Hangzhou’s gleaming skyscrapers, which are submerged in the low, dense clouds that also cover the picturesque Xihu, or West Lake.
Alone or in groups, the local residents converge at the hallowed water’s edge; some elegantly performing Tai Chi, a few others sitting calmly with a fishing rod in one hand, waiting patiently for their catch.
Nothing about the place screams ‘Asian Games’. But that’s not to suggest a lack of buzz. If anything, it’s the calm confidence of a nation that’s a veteran of hosting big-ticket events. (READ MORE)
A hockey gold medal in Hangzhou, China might be a lesser achievement than a bronze or silver in badminton, where Asian Games draws are teeming with world champions. Not all track and field golds will logically progress to podiums at Paris Games, while in weightlifting, 40 of the 47 World records belong to Asians bringing the sport on an even keel with the Olympics. The Indian Express crunches the numbers to see how Indians stack up, and offers a reckoner of the value of Asian Games medals across different sports. (READ MORE)
Recurve Archery: Quota spots available: Men individual (2), Women individual (2), Mixed team (1)
Boxing: Men’s divisions and quota spots: 51kg (2), 57kg (2), 63.5kg (2), 71, 80kg (2), 92kg (2), +92kg (2) and Women’s divisions and quota spots: 50kg (4), 54kg (4), 57kg (4), 60kg (4), 66kg (2), 75kg (2)
Hockey: Men’s: 1 quota spot, Women’s: 1 quota spot
Athletics: Any athlete who meets the qualification standards in Hangzhou, as laid out by World Athletics, will confirm their qualification for Paris.
Hockey: Men: 1 quota spot, Women: 1 quota spot
Set your alarm clocks for 6 am tomorrow and wake up early. Here's what the day will look like for the Indian contingent:
Shooting: Women’s 10m air rifle (Individual & Team) - Ramita, Mehuli Ghosh, Ashi Chouksey (6 am)
Women's Cricket Semifinals (6:30 am/11:30 am)
Rowing: Finals (6:30 am)
Wushu: Round 1 to finals (6:30 am to 5 pm)
Table Tennis (Men's and Women's Team): Round 4 and Quarterfinals (7:30 am)
Tennis (Round 1): Sumit Nagal, Ankita Raina, Karman Thandi (Singles), Mixed Doubles (7:30 am)
Women's Rugby: India vs Hong Kong (9:30 am), India vs Japan (2:30 pm)
Boxing (Round 1): Nikhat Zareen (11:30 am), Jaismine Lamboria (11:30 am), Shiva Thapa (11:30 am), Lakshya Chahar (11:30 am), Parveen Hooda (4:30 pm), Sanjeet (4:30 pm)
Women's Football: India vs Thailand (1:30 pm)
Men's Football: India vs Myanmar (5 pm)
Swimming: Srihari Nataraj (5pm)
Cricket is featuring at the Asian Games for the third time as a medal event (2010, 2014) but India will be part of the sport in this event for the first time in 2023.
For India, the biggest source of medals at the Asian Games has been athletics. India's most successful female athlete, PT Usha, won four gold and seven silver medals on the track between 1982 and 1994. Her haul includes an incredible 1986 Games where she won gold in the 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay, and claimed silver in the 100m. The only Indian athlete with a bigger haul of gold medals is tennis ace Leander Paes, who won five gold medals between 1990 and 2006.
“To qualify for Paris by winning the Asian Games is our number one priority,” was how Craig Fulton put it in his first press conference in May after taking over as Indian men’s hockey team head coach. “To be Asia No 1 is definitely one of the goals that we want to achieve and be that consistently,” he added.
The Pro League matches, an invitational event in Spain, and even the Asian Champions Trophy have all been leading up to Hangzhou. Winning the Asian Games gold is a matter of pride, but qualifying for Paris 2024 is just as important.
India scored a whopping 76 goals in five group stage matches at the 2018 edition, defeating the likes of Japan and Korea. But the semifinal saw them stumble against Malaysia. The images after the defeat must be haunting many a hockey fan still, as it would be for the likes of Manpreet Singh, who was squatting on the field in disbelief. His teammates around him looked equally shell-shocked. Twice India let a lead slip, and the penalty shootout ended in heartbreak. Then coach Harendra Singh had called it ‘unpardonable’. (READ MORE)
India is one of seven nations to have competed at every edition of the Asian Games.
So far at the Asiad, India's best medal haul came five years ago at Jakarta 2018. Indian athletes claimed 70 medals, to overhaul its previous best of 65 from 2010. The 70 medals also included 16 gold medals. thanks to those 16 golds, India finally went past its previous best gold medal haul at an Asiad -- 15, which was set at the inaugural Asian Games in 1951.
"Each centimeter (improvement) is like going to hell and back, training wise, dedication wise, everything." Mihir Vasavda spoke to Olympic champion high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim about the details of his craft. (READ MORE)
Just look at the pedigree of those names that will be torchbearers for the host nation at the Opening Ceremony.
Five Olympic champions, including Ye Shiwen (who claimed gold in women’s 200m and 400m individual medley events at the London 2012 Olympic Games); table tennis legend Fan Zhendong; Xu Mengtao, who was the first Chinese woman to win an Olympic gold medal in freestyle aerials; weightlifter Shi Zhiyong (CHN) – Olympic champion weightlifter. Gold medallist in men’s 69kg event and men’s 73kg event; Wang Shun, who was a gold winner in the men’s 200m individual medley at Tokyo 2020.
And Li Lingwei, the last person on that elite list is not an Olympic champion, but is a badminton player who is a 13-time world champion.
Meet Xiao Ai. She is the most sought-after volunteer at the Main Media Centre – home to more than 10,000 journalists covering the Asian Games.
She can navigate a crowded hall and deliver products from one end to another. She can assist in currency exchange, switch seamlessly between English and Chinese. She is a guide inside the giant maze that is the Hangzhou Expo Centre. And, she unfailingly takes a two-hour nap every afternoon. (READ MORE)
The Asian Games had to be delayed by a year because the host nation, China, wanted to completely curb the COVID-19 pandemic. A year later, the quadrennial Games are going to be the country's biggest sporting event in over a decade. Over 12,000 athletes from 45 nations -- who will compete in 40 sports -- have made the journey to China.
Of course China has hosted big-ticket events before: the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the Guangzhou Asiad in 2010.
India's Sports Minister Anurag Thakur will not be travelling to China after three Indian athletes — all wushu players — from Arunachal Pradesh were denied accreditation cards and instead offered stapled visas.
This is the latest attempt by China to stake claim on parts of Arunachal Pradesh. However, this has led to strong reaction from the MEA.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Chinese authorities “discriminated” in a “targeted and premeditated manner” and that a “strong protest has been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing against China’s deliberate and selective obstruction of some of our sportspersons”.
“Further, as a mark of our protest against the Chinese action, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports of India has cancelled his scheduled visit to China for the Games. The Government of India reserves the right to take suitable measures to safeguard our interests,” it stated. (READ MORE)
Organisers have not disclosed their amount of spending on the Asian Games 2023, though the Hangzhou government has said it spent more than 200 billion yuan ($30 billion) in the five years through 2020 on transport infrastructure, stadiums, accommodation and other facilities.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Asian Games Opening Ceremony!
Over the next 15 days, we'll keep you updated on every medal, every big moment and every news story that matters via our live blogs, reports from the ground and insightful analysis. Buckle up!