Thank you Hangzhou, hello Aichi-Nagayo
The Hindu
Closing ceremony celebrates solidarity in Asia: Li, Randhir praise Hangzhou for delivering ‘distinctly Chinese’ Games. Hundreds of athletes from 45 countries congregate to celebrate success of Indian contingent, best-ever Asian Games campaign with 107 medals. LED giant sprouting osmanthuses, video package of best moments, cauldron extinguished by digital torchbearer.
If exhibiting China’s might as the leading technology-powered nation was the message from the opening ceremony, the theme of the Hangzhou Asian Games closing ceremony was about celebrating solidarity within the continent.
The 19th Asian Games – postponed from 2022 after the COVID-19 outbreak in China — officially came to a close on Sunday after two weeks of thrilling sporting action. China, which won the first gold, finished top of the table with 201 gold medals and a combined total of 383, a Games record.
Roads were cordoned off and subway lines heading towards the Olympic Stadium were closed as the Premier Li Qiang marked his presence at the event, where there were plenty of empty seats at the nearly 80,000-capacity venue.
Li, alongside the acting Olympic Council of Asia president Raja Randhir Singh, spoke of his appreciation towards Hangzhou in delivering a ‘distinctly Chinese Asian Games’.
“You have been the perfect host and OCA will never forget this. The power of sport and Asian Games is to unite us all,” said Randhir.
Hundreds of athletes from the 45 countries, who completed their engagements over the last few days, simultaneously congregated out onto the field. The Indian delegation was led by flagbearer P.R. Sreejesh, who helped India to the hockey gold.
“It’s a tremendous honour and privilege to represent my country as the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony. The success of our Indian contingent, especially the Indian men’s hockey team, has been an incredible journey filled with hard work and dedication. This moment signifies the unity and strength of our nation in the world of sports,” said Sreejesh.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.