The People’s Republic of China holds the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou from 23 September to 8 October 2023, with competitions beginning as early as 19 September.
Paris 2024 Olympic qualification quotes are also available in nine sports.
One of the world’s biggest multi-sports competitions takes place in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China. Thousands of athletes from around Asia will gather to compete in 481 events at the 19th Asian Games, which were originally due to be held in 2022 before being postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Opening Ceremony is set for Saturday 23 September, although competition in eight sports will take place beforehand beginning on 19 September. The Games then last for 15 days before the Closing Ceremony on Sunday 8 October.
Competitions in archery, artistic swimming, boxing, breaking, hockey, modern pentathlon, sailing, tennis, and water polo will also serve as Olympic qualifiers, with Paris 2024 quota spots available in those nine sports.
While the Asian Games in 2023 are happening towards the end of many summer sports seasons, there will still be big names involved, from the likes of Neeraj Chopra and Mutaz Barshim in athletics to Pan Zhanle and Hwang-soo-wu in swimming.
Here is what to expect in Hangzhou.
Top names taking part at Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games
Hangzhou will see some of the world’s biggest stars in action, with world and Olympic champions suiting up for their national teams once more.
Perhaps the most-watched event at the Asian Games will come in a sport that is not currently on the Olympic programme. The way the draws have shaped up, India are likely to face Pakistan in the cricket finals on 25 September (women’s) and 7 October (men’s), with many of the two countries’ best players in the squad.
Artistic gymnastics will be shorn of many stars, as the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships begin in Antwerp, Belgium, the day after the conclusion of the event in Hangzhou. However, the hosts – who have already obtained a Paris 2024 qualifying quota in the sport by virtue of their 2022 World Championships performance – will send their full strength team to Hangzhou. Additionally, a veritable legend of the sport.
While badminton’s men’s Olympic champion and world number 1 Viktor Axelsen – being Danish – won’t be at the Asian Games, the rest of the world’s best in both men’s and women’s singles should be on hand, including the recently crowned world champions.
Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in 2023
There are 74 Paris 2024 Olympic quotas to be secured at the 19th Asian Games: 6 in archery, 10 in artistic swimming, 34 in boxing, 2 in breaking, 2 in hockey, 10 in modern pentathlon, 6 in sailing, 2 in tennis, and 2 in water polo.
In these sports and events, the top finisher(s) will obtain a Paris 2024 quota spot by name or for their National Olympic Committee (NOC) for the Olympic Games next summer.
However, as NOCs have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective NOC teams at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Schedule of Competitions at 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 in 2023
- Opening Ceremony: 23 September
- Aquatics
Artistic Swimming: 6–8 October Diving: 30 September–4 October Marathon Swimming: 6–7 October Swimming: 24–29 September Water Polo: 25 September–7 October - Archery: 1–7 October
- Athletics: 29 September–5 October
- Badminton: 28 September–7 October
Baseball: 26 September–7 October
Softball: 26 September–2 October - Basketball
3X3: 25 September–1 October
Basketball: 26 September–6 October - Boxing: 24 September–5 October
- Breaking: 6–7 October
- Canoe/Kayak
Slalom: 5–7 October
Sprint: 30 September–3 October - Cricket: 19–25 September (women’s) and 27 September–7 October (men’s)
- Cycling
BMX Racing: 1 October
Mountain Bike: 25 September
Road: 3–5 October
Track: 26–29 September - Dragon Boat: 4–6 October
- Equestrian: 26 September–6 October
- Fencing: 24–29 September
- Football: 19 September–7 October
- Golf: 28 September–1 October
- Gymnastics
Artistic Gymnastics: 24–29 September
Rhythmic Gymnastics: 6–7 October
Trampoline Gymnastics: 2–3 October - Handball: 24 September–5 October
- Hockey: 24 September–7 October
- Judo: 24–27 September
- Kabbadi: 2–7 October
- Martial Arts
Ju-jitsu: 5–7 October
Karate: 5–8 October
Kurash: 30 September–2 October - Mind Sports
Bridge: 27 September–6 October
Chess: 24 September–7 October
Esports: 24 September–2 October
Go: 24 September–3 October
Xiangqi: 28 September–7 October - Modern Pentathlon: 20–24 September
- Roller Sports
Roller Skating: 30 September–7 October
Skateboarding: 24–27 September - Rowing: 20–25 September
- Rugby Sevens: 24–26 September
- Sailing: 21–27 September
- Sepaktakraw: 24 September–7 October
- Shooting: 24 September–1 October
- Soft Tennis: 3–7 October
- Sport Climbing: 3–7 October
- Squash: 26 September–5 October
- Table tennis: 22 September–2 October
- Taekwondo: 24–28 September
- Tennis: 24–30 September
- Triathlon: 29 September–2 October
- Volleyball
Beach Volleyball: 19–28 September
Volleyball: 19–26 September (men’s) and 30 September–7 October (women’s) - Weightlifting: 30 September–7 October
- Wrestling: 4–7 October
- Wushu: 24–28 September
- Closing Ceremony: 8 October
How to Watch the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 in 2023
To watch the 2022 Asian Games held in 2023, you can tune into the various TV broadcasters and on-demand streaming provided by the broadcasters. The list includes:
- CCTV in China
- TBS in Japan
- Sony LIV (Sony Sports Network) in India
- MediaCorp Channel 5 and mewatch.sg in Singapore
- MNCTV, RCTI, iNews TV, and Vision+ in Indonesia
- KBS, MBC, SBS, and TV Chosun in the Republic of Korea
- RTM and Astro in Malaysia