STORY: Expectations run high ahead of Hangzhou Asian Games
DATELINE: Sept. 23, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:33
LOCATION: HANGZHOU, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of venues of the 19th Asian Games
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ABHIJIT SARKER, Bangladeshi delegation chief
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KHWAJA HASHMATULLAH RASA, Afghan delegation chief
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SONAM TSHEWANG, Bhutanese delegation chief
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): GANBAATAR AMGALANBAATA, Mongolian delegation chief
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): ABDULSATTAR AL-HAMDANI, Yemeni delegation chief
7. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): ABHIJIT SARKER, Bangladeshi delegation chief
8. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): KHWAJA HASHMATULLAH RASA, Afghan delegation chief
9. SOUNDBITE 8 (English): BALZHAN KOISHYBAYEVA, Kazakh rugby player
10. SOUNDBITE 9 (English): SONAM TSHEWANG, Bhutanese delegation chief

STORYLINE:

The 19th Asian Games is to be held from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

40 sports, 61 disciplines, and 483 events in 54 competition venues, with all 45 members of the Olympic Council of Asia sending over 12,000 athletes to the Games, the Hangzhou Asiad is already the Asiad with the most participants, most sports, and largest overall scale.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ABHIJIT SARKER, Bangladeshi delegation chief
"It is a very well-prepared thing. I did not find any lapses so far in terms of organizing the event. We are very comfortable here."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KHWAJA HASHMATULLAH RASA, Afghan delegation chief
"China's preparation of the Games is very excellent and all the people are excited to start their events."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SONAM TSHEWANG, Bhutanese delegation chief
"Hangzhou city is very beautiful, and the city is green, and we are looking forward for a very happy stay in the village. The volunteers are very helpful, and we see the volunteers everywhere. And so far, we were assisted everywhere we go, and we didn't face any problems."

Officials and athletes from various delegations have expressed their appreciation and anticipation for the Hangzhou Asiad.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): GANBAATAR AMGALANBAATA, Mongolian delegation chief
"Mongolia is very popular for judo, wrestling and archery, also the shooting, and we have expectations from the athletes of types of the (sports) I mentioned. I hope that for this Asian Games, our athletes from these types of sports will have gold, silver and bronze medals more than previous (editions of) the Asian Games."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): ABDULSATTAR AL-HAMDANI, Yemeni delegation chief
"We are good at the boxing. I think we have a chance there to have a boxing (medal) and (our) Wushu is good (too). I think these are two good sports we have."

SOUNDBITE 6 (English): ABHIJIT SARKER, Bangladeshi delegation chief
"Around 181 athletes will participate (in the Games) from our country. And we have some potential players. We hope in some disciplines we will do good."

SOUNDBITE 7 (English): KHWAJA HASHMATULLAH RASA, Afghan delegation chief
"We hope that Afghanistan gets some achievements and medals from the Asian Games."

SOUNDBITE 8 (English): BALZHAN KOISHYBAYEVA, Kazakh rugby player
"I think our preparation is very good and I hope that we can stay in the medal place (podium)."

SOUNDBITE 9 (English): SONAM TSHEWANG, Bhutanese delegation chief
"We hope that our judo and archery team will be doing very well in the Asian Games."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hangzhou, China.
(XHTV)