STORY: Pakistani athletes training with full energy for upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games
DATELINE: Sept. 8, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:37
LOCATION: Islamabad
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of athletes
2. STANDUP (English): ALI JASWAL, Xinhua reporter
3. various of athletes
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FATIMATUZ ZEHRA, Pakistani taekwondo player
5. various of athletes
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Urdu): AROOJ KIRAN, Pakistani hurdle athlete
7. various of athletes

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): ALI JASWAL, Xinhua reporter
"For the upcoming Asian Games in China's Hangzhou City, the Pakistani athletes are quite excited and enthusiastic, and they're quite interested and excited in visiting China and participating in the event, and competing with other athletes from different countries."

18-year-old Fatimatuz Zehra is an athlete of Pakistan's taekwondo national team.

As a medalist in national and international competitions, she is training for her new goal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FATIMATUZ ZEHRA, Pakistani taekwondo player
"The Asian Games is a very big event. It's a big opportunity for every athlete to participate there and get a medal. So I'm working very hard for that."

Arooj Kiran, a Pakistani hurdle athlete, believes that it will be an unforgettable experience as it's her first time to visit China.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Urdu): AROOJ KIRAN, Pakistani hurdle athlete
"The training is going on with full energy as we are going to China and playing there in the Asian Games. Other countries would also participate. Hopefully, we will make our country proud over there and win medals for our country.
We are very excited to go to China, especially because it's our friendly country, and we are very close to each other."

It's reported that around 200 Pakistani athletes are set to participate in the games in over 20 categories, such as archery, athletics, hockey, volleyball, taekwondo, etc.

The Hangzhou Asian Games which will open on Sept. 23, is set to be the largest edition ever with 12,500 athletes from 45 countries and regions.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Islamabad.
(XHTV)