 "Asiad 2023: Why do certain events of Hangzhou 2023 begin on September 19")
The Asian Games are finally here and it will begin on September 19, 2023. It might come as a shock to many that the official date of the Opening ceremony is September 23 and the games are starting on September 19. However, according to the schedule shared by the organising committee of the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, certain sports will begin on Tuesday, September 19 and Cricket is one of them.
Which sporting events will begin on September 19 at the Asian Games?
According to the general competition schedule of the Asian Games 2023 shared on the official website of the Hangzhou Asian Games on August 31, 2023, cricket, football, beach volleyball and volleyball will begin on September 19, 2023. Other sports such as modern pentathlon and rowing will begin on September 20, 2023. Sailing will start on September 21, while Table Tennis will start on September 22. These are the only sports that will begin before the start of the opening ceremony on September 23.
Also Read: Asiad 2023: India football teams' full schedule, squads. match timings
Also Read: Asiad 2023: India football teams' full schedule, squads. match timings
India’s participation in events starting on September 19
Indian football, volleyball, rowing, sailing and table tennis teams alongside Indian women’s cricket teams will take part in events starting before September 23, 2023, at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Indian football team under the leadership of Sunil Chhetri will begin its campaign at the Asian Games 2023 against hosts China starting September 18 onwards. The match will be played from 05:00 pm IST onwards. The Indian men’s volleyball team will also be in action on September 19. They will take on Cambodia in a Group C encounter from 04:30 pm IST onwards. No other Indian player or team will be in action on September 19.
India’s schedule for the Asian Games 2023 of all events
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The Indian team will be looking to better its record medal haul of 70 medals which included 16 gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games. Though various sporting programmes will begin before September 23, the medal rounds of all sports will start only after the opening ceremony on September 23, 2023.
A total of 655 athletes from India will take part in 41 sporting disciplines out of 61. A total of 481 gold medals are on offer at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
India's day-wise schedule for Asian Games 2023
India's day-wise schedule for Asian Games 2023
| Sport | Dates | Events | Indian athletes competing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | October 1-7 | 10 | 16 |
| Athletics | September 29 - October 5 | 48 | 68 |
| Badminton | September 28 - October 7 | 7 | 19 |
| Basketball (5x5) | September 26 - October 6 | 2 | 12 (1 team) |
| Basketball (3x3) | September 25 - October 1 | 2 | 8 (2 teams) |
| Boxing | September 24 - October 5 | 13 | 13 |
| Bridge | September 27 - October 6 | 3 | 18 |
| Cricket | September 19 - October 7 | 2 | 30 (2 teams) |
| Chess | September 24 - October 7 | 4 | 10 |
| Canoe Slalom | October 5-7 | 4 | 4 |
| Canoe Sprint | September 30 - October 3 | 12 | 13 |
| Cycling Track | September 26-29 | 12 | 14 |
| Diving | September 30 - October 4 | 10 | 2 |
| Equestrian | September 26 - October 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Esports | September 24 - October 2 | 7 | 15 |
| Football | September 19-27 | 2 | 44 (2 teams) |
| Fencing | September 24-29 | 12 | 9 |
| Golf | September 28 to October 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Hockey | September 24 to October 7 | 2 | 36 (2 teams) |
| Handball | September 24 - October 5 | 2 | 16 (1 team) |
| Judo | September 24-27 | 15 | 4 |
| Ju-Jitsu | October 5-7 | 8 | 11 |
| Kabaddi | October 2-7 | 2 | 24 (2 teams) |
| Kurash | September 30 - October 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Modern Pentathlon | September 20-24 | 2 | 1 |
| Rugby Sevens | September 24-26 | 2 | 12 (1 team) |
| Rowing | September 20-25 | 14 | 33 |
| Roller skating | September 30 - October 7 | 10 | 14 |
| Sailing | September 21-27 | 14 | 16 |
| Sepaktakraw | September 24 - October 7 | 6 | 16 |
| Shooting | September 24 - October 1 | 33 | 33 |
| Squash | September 26 - October 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Soft tennis | October 3-7 | 5 | 10 |
| Swimming | September 24-29 | 41 | 21 |
| Sport Climbing | October 3-7 | 6 | 7 |
| Tennis | September 24-30 | 5 | 9 |
| Table Tennis | September 22 - October 2 | 7 | 10 |
| Volleyball | September 19 - October 7 | 2 | 24 (2 teams) |
| Weightlifting | September 30 - October 7 | 14 | 2 |
| Wrestling | October 4 - 7 | 18 | 18 |
| Wushu | September 24-28 | 15 | 10 |