School children dash out from the starting line in Doha, Qatar on Feb 14. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]

The Qatar leg of the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run kicked off in Doha on Feb 14, coinciding with the country's National Sports Day and involving more than 200 school children, local media outlets reported.

The event was held to raise awareness among Asian societies of the upcoming of the Hangzhou Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, which was postponed last year and will take place from Sept 23 to Oct 8.

Nine-year-old You Sheng'an is a Chinese boy born in Qatar. He is fond of sports and is good at table tennis and football. He also served as a ball boy at the Qatar World Cup. His mother, Su Liping, from Quzhou, Zhejiang province, closely follows the news from her hometown and said she is looking forward to the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

"I haven't been back to China in years. I hope I can take my son back to see the changes in my hometown," Su said.

Over 30 sports also held demonstration events to mark National Sports Day at the Team Qatar Village.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Qatar.

Children take photos with mascots of the Hangzhou Asian Games. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]