Japan’s emperor opens Asian Games

The 20th Asian Games were declared open by Japan’s emperor on Saturday following a troubled build-up to the multi-sport spectacle that has more athletes than the Olympics.

There were a large number of empty seats at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Nagoya, where a subdued crowd saw a colourful opening ceremony on a heart-shaped stage.

Japan’s emperor and empress were given a respectful reception as they took their seats alongside International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry.

There was polite applause when emperor Naruhito declared the Games open.

The first gold medal will be won on Sunday morning, likely in the men’s individual triathlon, as the continent’s finest athletes compete in more than 40 sports before the curtain comes down on October 4.

The event in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs in seven sports and will be graced by global stars and fast-rising prodigies.

But it has been dogged by a series of problems as more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials stretched organisers to the limit as they tried to accommodate all.

To save money there is no traditional athletes’ village, competitors instead staying in a combination of temporary container-style huts, hotels and cruise ship the Costa Serena.

There was a record deluge last week which flooded parts of Nagoya and now a typhoon is approaching eastern Japan threatening further disruption in the coming days.

Some athletes were left stranded at the airport when transport failed to turn up and several teams have complained about the quality of the huts, including the beds being too short.

In the latest mishap, North Korea’s national anthem was played on Friday for South Korea’s men’s hockey team.

Cheers, empty seats

Two-time Asian Games silver medallist Zahra Kiani was a flag-bearer for Iran and hopes to win another medal in the Chinese martial art of wushu by watching how it’s done on YouTube.

“I have been training with movies. I watch videos of Chinese athletes and I try to copy them,” she said.

The Olympic Council of Asia said the continent’s premier sporting event, featuring 45 countries and territories, had found the perfect host.

“When the world has needed it most, Japan has always answered,” OCA president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said, referring to the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

He called those Games “a remarkable showcase of resilience, hospitality and commitment”.

Apart from Japan’s athletes, the biggest cheer was reserved for China’s competitors as they filed into the arena.

China will again expect to top the medals table after winning a whopping 201 golds and 383 medals on home soil in Hangzhou last time.

Prodigies in spotlight

As always at the Asian Games which started in 1951, Olympic staples such as athletics and swimming will sit side-by-side with regional favourites like sepak takraw and kabaddi.

There will be eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling. Padel and MMA will make their Asian Games debuts.

Among those competing will be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of prodigies in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.

Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting will also be competing, two years after she won Paris Olympics gold in the middle of a major gender row that saw her eligibility questioned.

North Korea will have more than 100 athletes competing across 14 sports, aiming to “bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un”.

Sooryavanshi will be part of an India cricket team looking to make a statement before the sport returns to the Olympics in Los Angeles after an absence of 128 years.

India could face bitter rivals Pakistan in the final at Nagoya’s new purpose-built cricket ground if rain does not intervene.

Meanwhile Asian Games organisers offered deepest apologies for playing the North Korean national anthem for the South Korean men’s hockey team.

South Korean officials were left angered by the latest mishap to hit the Nagoya-Aichi Games, which officially opened after a troubled build-up.

At their Friday contest against Bangladesh, South Korea’s players lined up for the traditional playing of the anthems, only to look bemused as North Korea’s song rang out.

Organisers then played Bangladesh’s anthem and later the South Korean one, the South’s Yonhap news agency said. South Korea went on to win 5-0.

“During the men’s hockey match between (South) Korea and Bangladesh on September 18, an incorrect national anthem was mistakenly played before the match,” the Asian Games organising committee told AFP on Saturday.

The statement said that, on Friday, “officials responsible for National Olympic Committee relations visited the delegation of the Republic of Korea and offered their sincere apologies for the incident”.

“We will also work to prevent a recurrence and would like to express our deepest apologies to all those affected by this matter.”

A stadium announcer apologised for the blunder but Min Tae-seok, coach of South Korea, was unimpressed.

“This is a really serious problem. When we protested, they said, ‘We’re sorry. It wasn’t that it wasn’t prepared, there was a mistake on the part of those responsible for playing it’,” he said.

“But this is something that simply should never happen.”

The build-up to the Games has been overshadowed by complaints from teams about the quality and amount of accommodation.

Some teams were also stranded at the airport for up to six hours when they landed this week.

Members of Pakistan’s contingent wave national flag during a march-past at the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games at Nagoya. Photo: AFP

Members of Pakistan’s contingent wave national flag during a march-past at the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games at Nagoya. Photo: AFP

Pakistan athletes

As many as 55 Pakistani athletes and officials attended the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Nagoya, with women’s cricket captain Fatima Sana and squash player Noor Zaman carrying the national flag during the parade.

The contingent included athletes from women’s cricket, kabaddi, mixed martial arts, rowing, squash, table tennis and wushu.

Fencing and badminton were initially included in the delegation for the ceremony but could not take part because of their delayed departure from Pakistan.

Only athletes staying in Nagoya were invited to the ceremony, while those based in other cities did not attend.

Women’s cricket

Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the women’s T20 semi-final on Sunday at Nisshin, with the teams having a closely matched record.

Of their 25 previous T20 internationals, both sides have won 12 matches, with one ending without a result.

Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the recent Asia Cup, while Pakistan reached the semi-finals after surviving a late scare against Thailand in the quarter-finals. They chased a target of 92 with two balls to spare after losing seven wickets.

Pakistan will look to strengthen their batting against Sri Lanka, with captain Fatima Sana expected to play a key role with both bat and ball.

Wicket-keeper Muneeba Ali is absent from the tournament because her mother is ill, leaving Gull Feroza to take over behind the stumps.

Sri Lanka will rely on experienced batter Chamari Athapaththu, who has been a consistent performer for the side.

Nilakshika Silva is unavailable after fracturing a finger during the Asia Cup, while Vishmi Gunaratne was left out of the squad. Batter Hansima Karunaratne and seamer Rashmika Sewwandi were given opportunities in Sri Lanka’s opening match.

The other semi-final pits India against Bangladesh at the same venue, with the winners of the two matches meeting for the gold medal.

Men’s hockey

Pakistan begin their men’s hockey campaign against Thailand at the Kawasaki Juko Stadium on Sunday.

They are in Group B alongside Malaysia, China, Oman and Uzbekistan. Defending champions India are in Group A with Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on October 1, with the gold and bronze medal matches scheduled for October 3.

Pakistan recently completed a training tour of South Korea after finishing 11th at the FIH World Cup.

Malaysia are regarded as the strongest opponent in Pakistan’s group, while a potential semi-final against Japan could provide a tougher test if Pakistan finish top of their pool and India win Group A.

Equestrian

Pakistan eventer Usman Khan will make his Asian Games debut in the eventing competition with his horse Mirage.

Usman had qualified for the previous three Asian Games but was unable to participate because of financial constraints.

He and Mirage have been performing well in recent competitions and are expected to deliver at the Games.