By Neha Yadav
Published Sep 24, 2023

Hindustan Times
Sports

Photo Credits: AP

Asian Games 2023 Opening Ceremony

The 19th edition of Asian Games kicked off on September 23, 2023 in Hangzhou, China

Chinese president Xi Jinping officially launched the Asian Games in a grand opening ceremony at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium

The stage of the stadium was equipped with digital LED ground display and suspended LED vertical screens that amazed the audience

The Sports Authority of India took to X (formerly Twitter) to post pics of the venue from the opening ceremony. Take a look

Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain and men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh were India's flag-bearers at the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games

India fielded 655-member contingent at the Asian Games, the largest by India in the history of the Asian Games

A cadre of soldiers marched the arena bearing China's flag and hoisted their national flag. The opening ceremony paid ode to China's modern and traditional vista

The event also featured the three mascots of the Asian Games 2023 that depict Hangzhou's heritage

The robots are Chenchen, Congcong and Lianlian. They are collectively named as Memories of Jiangnan

Several countries marched with their athletes and many artists delivered cultural dance performances on the stage filled with pomp

The torch bearers arrived in the arena with other athletes and lit up the cauldron during the lighting ceremony

The audience was left mesmerised when the digital torch bearer appeared running across the screen to light up the digital cauldron