The 19th edition of the Asian Games officially kicked off on September 23 in Hangzhou, China.
Lovlina Borgohain, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, and Harmanpreet Singh, the men's hockey captain, proudly led the Indian contingent at the dazzling opening ceremony, marking the commencement of this grand continental event. India, demonstrating strength in numbers, has assembled a formidable 655-member contingent.
The splendid event unfolded at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, often referred to as the Big Lotus due to its architectural resemblance to the Lotus flower. Originally designed as a football arena in 2018, this venue has the capacity to host up to 80,000 spectators.
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India's flag-bearers, Lovlina Borgohain and Harmanpreet Singh, adorned traditional Indian attire during the opening ceremony. Lovlina and other women were elegantly dressed in sarees, while Harmanpreet and fellow men looked sharp in Kurta Pyjamas.
In her weight category, Lovlina stands as the reigning world champion, having secured a gold at the World Championship held earlier this year in New Delhi. On the other hand, Harmanpreet Singh, the hockey team captain, is renowned as India's finest drag-flicker. He aims to guide his team to victory and clinch the Asiad gold, securing a coveted quota for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Chinese President XI Jinping, who was present at the opening ceremony, declared the 2023 Asian Games open.
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