Asian Games: Best of five!

How will the Hangzhou Asian Games go down in history?

With as many as 97 games' records, 26 Asian records and 13 world records, the 19th Hangzhou edition was quite possibly the most influential and revolutionary edition of the continental gathering. After four long years of waiting, fans were treated to over two weeks of transcendent human achievement and splendours of multicultural contest and collaboration.

The 2023 Asian Games wrapped up on Sunday, with a closing ceremony featuring fireworks and dancers using lit-up props to add a musical component to their dance routine, while the words ‘Love Asia!' were projected on a giant screen with thousands of onlookers.

Hosts China were relentless in their domination of the medal tally, with 201 golds beating the 199 they clinched at Guangzhou 2010. Now that the event has drawn to a close, we can look back at the monumental moments that impressed, influenced, and inspired us. Throughout it all, there were the athletes, nearly 12,000 of them from 45 Asian countries, embracing the sporting fervour - and, win or lose, their superhuman feats had us gasping, crying and laughing at the funny, moving and shocking moments of the continental event.

Mid-Day looks back at some of the most significant highlights from the Olympic-sized event, encompassing 40 sports across 54 venues.

Nepal at its imperious best

Nepal men's cricket team rose through the ranks and accomplished several feats in a dazzling display of skill and demeanour. Their record-breaking achievements came against part-timers Mongolia. Nepal produced a top-notch effort to become the first men's team to score more than 300 runs in T20Is. They bludgeoned 314/3 in 20 overs, surpassing the previous highest of 278/3 by Afghanistan against Ireland in 2019. But that was not all.

Feisty teenager Kushal Malla slammed the fastest T20I century off 34 balls and continued his imperious run with an unbeaten 137 off 50. If this wasn't enough, Dipendra Singh Airee shattered another T20 world record while racing to a nine-ball fifty, whacking at least eight sixes throughout his innings. Nepal's 26 maximums were also the most scored in a T20 innings.

A costly premature celebration

South Korean roller skater Jung Cheol-won only had his early celebration to blame, which he later admitted was a ‘big mistake' that cost him gold. Just as Jung, the anchor in the men's 3,000m relay race, raised his arms in the home stretch to celebrate, Taiwan's Huang Yu-lin lunged forward on his way to the finish line by one-hundredth of a second for what was nothing short of a miraculous achievement. "While you were celebrating, I was still fighting," Huang later told Jung. "I made a rather big mistake," Jung told reporters, quoted by AP. "I'm very sorry. I apologise to my teammates and to our fans who supported us. It's all my fault."

ESports swoops in

ESports made a debut appearance as a full-fledged medal event at the Hangzhou 2023, five years after merely being staged as a ‘demonstration event' in Jakarta. China rewrote record books with the first eSports Asian Games gold in history, defeating Malaysia in the smartphone game Arena of Valor.

Watch out for the hammer!

An athletics official found himself amid a terrifying ordeal after being hit by a hammer hurled during the men's hammer final. With the spotlight on Kuwait's Ali Zankawi as he prepared for one of his throws, none could have comprehended the amount of damage his throw would inflict in the next few seconds.

The official in question, Huang Qinghua, was sitting outside the throwing circle when Zankawi aborted his attempt, with his 7.26kg hammer veering off course dramatically and hitting into the official's right leg. The impact was so forceful that Huang had to immediately be carried out of the arena on a stretcher and undergo surgery. The sight of blood spurting from Huang's wounded leg sent shockwaves through the venue.

Hurdles hoo-ha

Chinese track darling Wu Yanni headed into the 100m hurdles final as one of the firm favourites in front of a packed home stadium. But a suspected false start saw her earning a red card as she walked behind the starting blocks. Wu attempted to argue her case with the authorities, appearing to say that the wet track had caused her to slip. But that likely invited further discussion about the right of an athlete to run under protest. She was allowed a second chance, nonetheless.

The point of discussion became so intense that India's Jyothi Yarraji was dragged on and also ejected for moving before the gun. Both Wu and Yarraji were eventually allowed to race, with Wu finishing second behind compatriot Lin Yuwei and Yarraji taking the bronze. However, under the rules, there were no grounds for Wu to run under protest. She was later disqualified, with Yarraji upgraded to silver.