NOVEMBER 14, 20 CHINA DAILY PAGE 14 ASIAD FROM THE PRESS
Asian Games begin with another awesome Chinese masterpiece on Haixinsha Island Aft er storming the sporting world by hosting a spectacular Olympics and topping the medals tally at Beijing two years ago, Guangzhou on Friday came up with a breathtaking opening cer- emony to unfurl the 16th Asian Games in pomp and style. If the Olympics displayed China’s economic might and sporting prowess, Guangzhou has rein- forced China’s growing status as a superpower by pumping in billions of dollars in putting up the show in the prosperous and sprawling city in the Pearl River Delta. Th e ceremony, set on tiny Haixinsha Island on the Pearl River, which runs through the heart of Guangzhou, drew traditional southern Chinese culture and featured a strong watery theme. Th e sea of colors, the fi reworks, and the technical innovation of the entire show left everyone awestruck. And when Olympic and Asian Games diving champion He Chong lit the Asian Games cauldron by setting off a giant fi recracker, China once again wowed the world with its creativity. Two decades aft er the Beijing Asian Games in 1990 underscored China’s rapid strides in the sporting arena, the country is hosting the biggest games ever. Th e 15-day mega event will witness a conglomeration of 9,704 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions. Th e organizers have added 12 new competition venues besides sprucing up subways, ports and city streets in creating a fabulous infrastructure. THE INDOASIAN NEWS SERVICE
Fireworks light up Singapore paddlers doubles – through world No 1s Lee Chong Wei and Koo Kien Keat-Tan host city eye historic win Boon Heong. “In fact, we have a chance to win a A spectacular display of color- Starting on Saturday, 240 ath- medal in the team event. Hopefully, ful lighting and dazzling fi reworks letes from Singapore will strive the team will do better than they did soared above Guangzhou city, leav- to shine at the Asian Games in in Doha,” he said. “A good showing ing thousands of spectators spell- Guangzhou. in the team event will certainly lift bound to raise the curtain of the 16th Th e haul of eight gold, seven sil- their morale to do even better in Asian Games on Friday night. ver and 12 bronze medals from the the individual events.” At this Asian Games, Malaysia Doha Games in 2006 was a record THE STAR MALAYSIA is banking on its largest contingent for the Republic, and Low Teo Ping, ever, comprising 337 athletes and the chef-de-mission for the 16th Indian wrestlers 126 offi cials. Asian Games, predicts Singapore Th e athletes will be competing in will return with an even bigger haul face challenge 28 of the 42 sports events on off er. from Guangzhou. Nine Malaysian athletes and Maybe the Republic’s table ten- Indian wrestlers may be going offi cials were onboard the Malay- nis women can deliver a historic into the Asian Games with their sian boat, which was decorated triumph in China. confidence levels at an all-time with two of Malaysia's famous If the two top-ranked teams high after their record-breaking buildings, the Sultan Abdul in the women’s game meet in the gold medal haul at the Commen- Samad building and the Petronas Asian Games fi nal as expected, the wealth Games last month. Twin Towers. winners will end the year as the best But the 18-member squad, sans BERNAMAMALAYSIA in the world. world champion Sushil Kumar, The Republic’s sprint legend will face a tougher challenge in Pandas steal the Canagasabai Kunalan feels gold Guangzhou with wrestlers some in the women’s table tennis team being reigning world champions ZHANG CHENLIANG / show at Asiad event would be one of the biggest from the traditional powerhouses CHINA DAILY achievements in the history of Sin- of the sport featuring in the conti- China has marked the opening gapore sport. nental extravaganza. of the 16th Asian Games in the TODAY SINGAPORE India’s forte has always been southern city of Guangzhou with freestyle event with the country around high in the air, in front of almost in strength to imbibe the a lavish show of fi reworks. Malaysians to winning fi ve of the six medals in four huge sail-boat screens that energy of the electrifying atmo- However, it was a group of that segment in the last edition of towered above the arena to mark sphere. pandas that stole the show. The surpass target the games in Doha. the opening ceremony of the 16th It was a ceremony that sur- 12 giant pandas in the Guangzhou TNN INDIA Asian Games here on Friday. passed everything that has been Xiangjiang Safari Park form the Malayasian badminton team The city was lit up beauti- performed in all the Olympics “Asian Games Panda Group”. manager Datuk Maijol Manap has Better than the fully — the Canton tower stood including the Beijing Games. In Aft er six years of planning and thrown the gauntlet to the shuttlers majestically on one side and the taking the opening ceremony away billions of dollars worth of invest- – surpass the one-gold target! Olympic Games skyscrapers with colorful lighting from the limitations of a stadium, ment, Guanghzhou city has been Maijol said that although China formations provided a brilliant Guangzhou turned the whole area transformed to make sure it plays would be the favorites, Malaysia China painted a memorable can- backdrop. into an amphitheatre. It was art and the perfect host. would be strong challengers in two vas on the sky, as lithe girls danced Gagan Narang carried the fl ag craft at its best. AL JAZEERA QATAR events – men’s singles and men’s on water and strong men jumped for India and the contingent was THE HINDU INDIA