HANGZHOU, China—Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the 19th Asian Games open at a glittering ceremony in Hangzhou on Saturday, kickstarting
The Philippines got its campaign off the right foot as the women’s national football team hurdled Hong Kong, 3-1, on Friday night.
Xi is scheduled to open proceedings officially in one of the country’s most prosperous regions, in front of invited guests including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.Performers dance across a digital projection of a pond scene at the ‘Big Lotus’ Olympic Stadium in Hangzhou, China, as the 19th Asian Games opened on Saturday night.
But they have already been rocked by a row between New Delhi and China, with a trip to Hangzhou by India’s sports minister cancelled on Friday. China’s status as a sporting destination took a severe hit during the first three years of the pandemic, when snap lockdowns and travel rules saw almost all international events cancelled in the country.The hosts are overwhelming favorites to top the medals table, boosting a nearly 900-strong delegation, with Japan and South Korea battling for second.
Nine sports, among them boxing, break dancing and tennis, will serve as Asia qualifiers for next year’s Paris Olympics. “We are open to all. This means our Games are not concentrated only for elite sportspeople,” he said.
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