Asian Games open amid grand ceremony; Neeraj Chopra leads Indian contingent

ONI Bureau:  The opening ceremony of the 18th edition of Asian Games kicked off in Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Saturday.

A day after celebrating the 73rd anniversary of the country’s independence, Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the Games open on Saturday night.

Before the start of the ceremony, a parade of athletes from every country was held. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was India’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony, with 568 athletes marching behind him.

This year, around 12,000 athletes from 45 countries will compete in 40 disciplines. China sent a relatively young delegation, with 631 out of their 845-athlete squad participating in neither the Olympics nor the Asian Games.