Asian Games 2023: Most memorable moments from Hangzhou
The 19th Asian Games in the People's Republic of China has come to an end. Here are some of the most indelible scenes following 20 days of multisport competition.
The 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, the People's Republic of China, are over.
In a Games postponed by one year from 2022 to 2023, and marked by the dominance of the host country on the field of play once it started, there was countless drama from the 12,000 athletes of 45 countries/regions who competed for 481 gold medals.
The following are some of the most memorable moments from the Games:
The beginning of a beautiful friendship
The new Games' MVP (Zhang Yufei) and the former MVP (Ikee Rikako), one from China the other from Japan. After their final race of the meet - the women's 50m butterfly - the two swimmers wept together in a too-good-to-be-true moment.
Ikee had just won her first international medal since the 2018 Games in Jakarta, following her leukemia diagnosis in February 2019. She began to break down upon seeing her coach as Zhang, unable to hold back tears of her own, consoled Ikee.
Tears weren't the only thing Zhang and Ikee shared - they now hold the joint record of most gold medals won at a single Games with six.
Zhang Yufei holds Ikee Rikako during the medal ceremony of the women's 50m butterfly.
On cloud nine
It's hardly a surprise to see a teenager compete in a world-class skateboarding contest these days. But even by the sport's standards, nine years old is young.
Mazel Paris Alegado raised eyebrows early on at the Games by qualifying for the women's park final as the youngest member of the Philippines at the age of nine, and went on to finish seventh.
The aspiring Olympian may not have won a medal but undoubtedly won our hearts.
Age is just a number
Slightly more seasoned than Alegado is Oksana Chusovitina, who is anything but done - even after eight Olympic Games and five Asian Games.
The 48-year-old Uzebkistani just missed the podium in Hangzhou, finishing fourth on the vault by a mere 0.150 points. And the only active international gymnastics hall-of-famer still has her sights set on Paris 2024 via the World Cup route.
"There is disappointment, of course, but there is also inspiration that you can continue to work and do what is necessary." Chusovitina said.
At the Games though, "Chuso" was far from being the oldest competitor. That distinction went to 84-year-old xiangqi player Sok Theng from Cambodia.
Oksana Chusovitina is still going strong at 48.
Fun and Games
Esports made its highly anticipated debut at the Games in Hangzhou with seven events, with the first gold medal going to China who beat Malaysia 2-0 in the Arena of Valor final.
Fans at the China Hangzhou Esports Centre were well into it as the Games welcomed a new generation and an audience base.
"I'm very excited, as this is the first Asian Games Esports gold medal," Chinese captain Luo Siyuan said.
"The audience who love Esports and the seniors in the Esports industry have been looking forward to this for a long time."
Esports made its Asian Games debut in Hangzhou.
Rain men: Indian cricketers strike gold
India fielded a team in Asian Games men's cricket for the first time at this edition, and came away with the gold as many expected. It just didn't happen the way everyone thought it would.
Rain washed out the final against Afghanistan and due to tournament regulations, India topped the podium by virtue of their No. 1 global ranking. The circumstances were far from ideal, but they'll take it.
"Obviously we would have loved to have a full game and get a result through the full game, but it's a thing we cannot control," India captain Ruturaj Dasharath Gaikwad said.
"The match officials came and told us around 5pm. I think we pretty much knew by then because the rain was getting heavier.
"It is something we are not used to, winning a medal. The feeling is slightly different, more emotional for everyone and everyone is really enjoying it."
Indian cricketers competed at the Asian Games for the first time - and struck gold.
China's Games from opening to closing
The hosts finished at the top of the medal table by a country mile. It wasn't even close.
China's 201 golds almost quadrupled runners-up Japan's tally (52), and doubled their overall medals total 383 to 188.
Will Japan be able to turn the tables on home soil at the next Games in Aichi-Nagoya in 2026? Check back in in 2026.