India’s flag bearers Harmanpreet Singh and Lovlina Borgohain were leading the Indian contingent in China.
China: Asian Games 2023 -bound team India is currently in China’s Hangzhou for the marquee event. A 655-member strong Indian contingent will be in action in 41 disciplines. the Asian Games 2023 have already started, the opening ceremony was on September 23 Saturday.
India’s flag bearers Harmanpreet Singh and Lovlina Borgohain were leading the Indian contingent in China. Flag-bearers at multi-sports events like the Asian Games are symbolic leaders who lead the country’s delegation during the opening ceremony parade, displaying the country’s flag.
The video of team India’s entry has gone viral on the social sphere and here is the video:
Indian squad for the Asian Games. 🇮🇳
– All the best for all the participants & make the whole country proud.pic.twitter.com/8lFI1uxOD9
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 23, 2023
The men’s and women’s cricket teams, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Harmanpreet Kaur will be making their debut at the continental level event. The women’s team started its campaign on September 21 and the final will be on September 25. After this, the men’s cricket teams will kickstart their campaigns on September 27 and the title clash will take place on October 7. Indian men’s team will play its first match on October 3.
India is fielding a contingent of 68 players in track and field events, this will be India’s largest representation in the sport. Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra will be India’s biggest face at the event, aiming to replicate his gold-winning heroics in Jakarta in 2018. Athletics competitions will be held from September 29 to October 5, with the men’s javelin throw final on October 4 as its biggest attraction due to India’s ‘Golden Boy’ Neeraj.
Neeraj is not the only Olympic medalist from India as badminton star PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, wrestler Bajrang Punia and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu are also playing at the Asian Games. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze-winning men’s hockey team is also playing.
Badminton competition will be held from September 28 to October 7, with Sindhu leading the 19-member Indian team which will feature Commonwealth champions Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy, who is also the bronze medalist at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships held last month.
Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Chanu, a former World Champion as well will be making her Asiad debut in women’s 49 kg weightlifting on September 30. Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, the defending champion in men’s 65 kg freestyle wrestling will play on October 6.
Meanwhile, boxing at the Asian Games will be a qualifying event for the Paris Olympics next year. Two-time and current world champion Nikhat Zareen will kickstart her campaign in women’s 50 kg from September 24 and Lovlina will represent India in women’s 75 kg from September 26 onwards. Boxing competitions will end on October 5.
