This time the Asian Games 2023 is being organized in Hangzhou, China. These games will be held between 23 September and 8 October. The opening ceremony will be held in Hangzhou on 23rd, in which Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Olympic medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain will be the flag bearers of the Indian team.
Lovlina had won the bronze medal in the 69 kg weight category in the Tokyo Olympics. This year she won the gold medal in the 75 kg event of the Women’s Boxing Championship in New Delhi. Let us tell you that star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra became the flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.
This time a total of 655 Indian players are participating in the Asian Games, which is the largest contingent of the country so far. But this time, these 5 Indian star athletes, including javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, are the ones from whom there is definite hope of a medal. Female boxer Nikhat Zareen is also on top in this list. Let us know about them…
Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in the Asian Games 2018. He is also a contender for gold this time. Last time he threw the javelin at a distance of 88.06 meters in the Jakarta Games. He has also won gold in the World Championship, Tokyo Olympics and Diamond League. His best individual throw is 89.94 meters.
Indian star female boxer Nikhat Zareen has been the World Championship and Commonwealth Games champion in the 50 kg weight category. Although she is entering the Asian Games for the first time, there are full expectations of gold from her. If 27-year-old Nikhat wins the Asian Games, she will also qualify for Paris Olympics 2024.
The Indian men’s hockey team last disappointed in the Asian Games 2018. The team had to be satisfied with the bronze medal. But this time the Indian men’s hockey team is in tremendous form and there is full hope of gold from them. After winning the gold, the Indian hockey team will also get direct entry in Paris Olympics 2024.
Both the Indian men’s cricket team and women’s cricket team are entering the Asian Games for the first time. That means it is the debut of both the teams. The captaincy of the men’s team is in the hands of Ruturaj Gaikwad, while the women’s team is being commanded by Smriti Mandhana. Both teams will play the quarterfinals directly. In such a situation, they will have to win only 3-3 matches for gold.
In badminton, India’s star pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are in their full form. This is the world number-3 pair in men’s doubles. He had won the India Open title last year. He won gold in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Whereas won the historic bronze medal in the World Championship.