The Games will showcase not only conventional sports but also shine a spotlight on regional events and youthful, action-packed additions, Shi Futian reports

In keeping with slogan of the Asian Games, the events on display in Hangzhou will have one eye on the future. While the classics will be present, the roster is also dotted with exciting new sports that are set to attract fans of all age groups and from different backgrounds.

The Hangzhou Asiad features a total of 61 disciplines in 40 sports, which include most of those found at the Summer Olympics, such as athletics, swimming and three big-ball team sports (football, basketball and volleyball). It also boasts regional sports with distinct Asian characteristics, including kabaddi and sepak takraw.

There is also the addition of new, action-packed events that appeal to a younger audience, such as breaking and esports.

"Among all the 40 Asian Games events, 31 are Olympic sports, while nine are non-Olympic sports. There will be major sports including athletics and swimming, and there are regional sports such as wushu and kurash, which show the rich culture and tradition of Asia," said Zhou Jinqiang, a vice-minister of the General Administration of Sport of China.

"The addition of new sports such as breaking and esports is welcomed by the younger generation. The sports of the Asian Games have strong Olympic elements, and these sports have also become a great chance for Asian countries and regions to display their cultures and traditions. The variety of sports at the Asian Games is the best testimony to the inclusiveness and diversity of Asian sports culture."

The Olympic sports at the Asian Games, first of all, attract a huge number of Asia's Olympic and world champions. The fierce competition among the region's top athletes is guaranteed to deliver the most thrilling action for fans to enjoy.

Asia's regional sports are always a major attraction at the event. Kabaddi, one of the oldest sports in the world, with a 4,000-year history, for instance, is included in the main program in Hangzhou. A fast, furious and physical sport, kabaddi competitions are always great spectacles.

Another fine example is sepak takraw, or kick volleyball. The sport is immensely popular in Southeast Asia and has a vibrant history. In 1990, sepak takraw was included at the Asian Games in Beijing. Since then, sepak takraw has grown not only as a sport but also in commercial and entertainment value.

"Sepak takraw is a very fashionable sport. Thanks to its development and promotion in recent years, a variety of regional competitions have emerged in Asia and across the globe. The Hangzhou Asian Games will be a milestone for sepak takraw," said Abdul Halim Bin Kader, president of the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation.

The inclusion of breaking and esports has attracted huge attention and generated a youthful buzz at the Games. Esports was included for the first time as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, with China winning two gold medals and one silver.

This year in Hangzhou, it will debut as an official medal sport, featuring seven competitions — Arena of Valor Asian Games Version, Dota 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, League of Legends, PUBG Mobile Asian Games Version, Street Fighter V and EA Sports' FIFA-branded football game.

China's esports medal hopefuls are well aware that all the attention comes with equally intense pressure.

"There are great expectations, but we will handle the pressure, so that we can focus on our competition," said Zhu Kai, head coach of the Chinese League of Legends squad.

"We will try to enable a fair environment for all the players to display their best at the Asian Games and to show the fans what they are capable of. We have arranged personality tests and psychology classes to ensure our players will have a great mentality."

Breaking was welcomed into the 19th Asian Games sports program at the OCA General Assembly in Oman in December 2020, following a successful appearance at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2018 and its subsequent inclusion into the program of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"The addition of breaking is because of its popularity among young people. Through breaking, we hope more people, especially the younger generation, will be attracted to the Asian Games and to sports," said Yang Meng, an official of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee.