After a year of anticipation and delay, the 19th Asian Summer Games will kick off in grand style on September 23 evening at the Big Lotus Stadium in Hangzhou, China. This highly anticipated event, which boasts the participation of nearly 12,500 athletes from 45 countries and territories, is being touted as the biggest in the history of the Games.
Originally scheduled to take place last year, the 19th Asian Summer Games were postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions. However, organizers have ensured that this year's edition will make up for the wait with an impressive opening ceremony featuring a dazzling digital light show.
The Asian Summer Games, which have a history dating back to 1951, surpass even the Olympics in terms of the number of athletes and sports. This year's competition will see athletes competing across 40 sports, encompassing a wide range of disciplines.
Participating countries and territories in this grand sporting spectacle include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Palestine, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Timor Leste, Chinese Taipei, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.
A wide array of sports and disciplines will be showcased during the Games, including aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, bridge, canoe/kayak, chess, cricket, cycling, dragon boat racing, equestrian, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, ju-jitsu, judo, kabaddi, karate, kurash, modern pentathlon, roller sports, rowing, rugby, sailing, sepaktakraw, shooting, soft tennis, softball, sports climbing, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.
The Big Lotus Stadium, with a seating capacity of 80,000 spectators, will take center stage during the Games, serving as the main arena for both the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as hosting track-and-field competitions.
One of the highlights of the opening ceremony will be the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will officiate the event and declare the Games open. This prestigious occasion marks the third time China has hosted the Asian Games, following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.
Kazakhstan
In preparation for the Games, the Kazakhstan delegation raised their national flag in Hangzhou on September 21, officially marking their arrival and participation in the event. Team Kazakhstan comprises 525 athletes competing in 30 sports, with 27 of these sports being Olympic disciplines. Kazakhstan, a stalwart participant since 1994, hopes to make its mark on the world stage once again, joining the rest of the continent in celebrating the spirit of competition and camaraderie.
Kyrgyzstan
Another Central Asian nation vigilantly seeks further triumphs. Kyrgyzstan's judo hopeful, Vladimir Zoloev, has decided to compete in a higher weight category at the Hangzhou Asian Games, relinquishing his previous 81-kilogram weight class where he won a bronze medal in Jakarta/Palembang 2018. Kyrgyzstan has high hopes for medals in wrestling, athletics, judo, jujitsu, and wushu. They previously secured 20 medals in Jakarta, including three golds in athletics, jujitsu, and wrestling. Wrestling remains a strong contender, with athletes currently at the World Championships in Serbia. Additionally, Kyialbek Taiirov represents a medal chance in Esports, particularly in Central Asia Dota 2, as he ranks among the world's top 10 players in the game, attracting attention at Hangzhou.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is gearing up for the 19th edition with a diverse array of sports. From hockey to fencing, handball to boxing, weightlifting to football, esports to wrestling, chess to Kurash, rowing to water polo, and so much more, Uzbekistan is set to showcase its prowess.
Since 1994, Uzbekistan has been a consistent participant in every edition of the Asian Games. The 2018 Games marked a significant achievement for Uzbekistani athletes, as they secured their highest medal count to date. Among the standout performers was canoe sprinter Vadim Menkov, who made history by clinching his fourth consecutive gold medal in the C1 1000m event, surpassing Ivan Kireev's three golds from the 1994 Games and becoming the first canoe sprinter worldwide to achieve such a feat at four consecutive Games.
Uzbekistan's dominance in canoe sprint at the Asian Games was evident as they amassed more medals in this discipline than any other. Artistic gymnast Oksana Chusovitina, at the age of 43, added to the nation's glory by capturing her eighth medal in the vault event, placing her in a select group alongside China's Chen Cuiting as one of only two female artistic gymnasts with eight Asian Games medals. Additionally, Uzbekistan has a strong tradition in combat sports, with freestyle wrestlers Artur Taimazov and Dilshod Mansurov each clinching three gold medals, and the country's boxers consistently earning more medals than any other nation since 1994. In 2018, Uzbekistani athletes excelled in the newly introduced sport of kurash, claiming 11 out of the 27 medals awarded.
The 19th Asian Summer Games will unfold from September 23 to October 8, with medals being awarded in 40 different sports.
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