Guangzhou Asian Games Opening Ceremony in numbers

Following are some of the key statistics related to the Opening Ceremony of Guangzhou Asian Games on Friday.

175,000

Haixinsha Island, known as the stage of the ceremony, covers 175,000 square kilometres. Its major construction includes five parts, including the Spectators Marshalling Area, the Spectator Seating, the Central Stage, the Fountain Area and the Eastern Support Area.

40,000

More than 40,000 shots of fireworks are ready for the ceremony, covering at least five types including Fountain, Flower mines, Roman candle, Batteries and Celebration fireworks. 970 spots are set to launch fireworks.

26,916

26,916 seats are fixed on the main construction, added with 7,013 temporary ones, which means more than 30,000 spectators have got the chance to witness the sporting gala. It's the first time that an Asiad Opening Ceremony was moved out of the stadium.

45

45 floats in different colours participated in the Boat Parade, which starts at White Swan Bay and ends at the Haixinsha Island.

21

21 composers have composed music of 190 minutes for the ceremony.

14

Rehearsal has been carried out for 14 months. The first collective rehearsal started from September, 2010.

Ebbing Indonesia plays down chances of gold in badminton

Indonesia, long considered among China's fiercest rivals in world badminton, comes into the 2010 Asian Games at one of its lowest ebbs.

Taufik Hidayat is Indonesia's major medal hopeful in the badminton competitions.

A recent dry spell at the top level has hit its nadir this year. Indonesia came away empty-handed from the Thomas and Uber Cups in May and the World Championship in August, and so far it has two titles in 10 Super Series events this year.

Given the unprecedented lack of success, Indonesia head coach Christian Hadinata is realistic about his team's chances in Guangzhou.

"The realistic target for us is bronze," he told the Jakarta Globe. "I like our chances of reaching the semifinals, but I don't know about getting past China. They're still the best in the world."

Indonesia won the men's team bronze at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, losing 3-1 to eventual gold medalist China in the semifinals. It opens against India or Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals and faces a possible semifinal clash with China.

Hopes for individual success are not much brighter. Indonesia's two men's singles entries, Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro, could end up facing heavyweights Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Lin Dan of China in the semifinals.

Sony, ranked 15th in the world, earned the country's first success after winning the men's singles title at the Singapore Open. He has not won since then, though, withdrawing from the worlds with a back injury and losing to an unseeded Malaysian shuttler in the first round of October's Indonesian Open Grand Prix Gold.

World No.4 Taufik, the men's singles gold medalist in 2002 and 2006, also comes into Guangzhou under a cloud. He has titles this season from the Indonesia GP Gold and Canadian Open but has struggled to break through in the Super Series. His best top-flight results this year were losses in the finals of the Indonesia Open Super Series (Lee), World Championship (Chen Jin) and Denmark Super Series (JanO Jorgensen), but he ended his dry spell by winning the singles crown over Denmark's Joachim Persson in this month's French Super Series.

"I would like to win the gold again because that's what I've been targeting this season. However, I think this time it doesn't look possible," Taufik told the Globe. "Three of the top four in the world [Lee, Chen and Lin] are all competing, so I know winning again will be difficult."

Doubles hopes rest squarely on the shoulders of world No.3 pair Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan. Their path to the final looks clear, although China's Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng are lurking in the lower half of the draw.

The Indonesian Badminton Association also took a gamble ahead of the Guangzhou Asian Games, breaking up Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir, the world's third-ranked mixed doubles pair. It instead paired Liliyana with Tontowi Ahmad. The move has worked so far as the duo has reached successive second-tier finals in Macao, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia.

Super Dan to lead court battles

Compared to China's struggling "big ball" teams, the nation's racquet sports squads always seem to be in contention at major events.

China's Lin Dan takes to the Guangzhou Asian Games courts, knowing the adoring home crowd fully expects him to steamroll anyone who gets in his way.

Peng Shuai of China returns a shot against Sara Errani of Italy during the China Open at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing on October 4.

That's once again the case at the Guangzhou Asian Games, where the "little ball" competitions represent huge medal hopes.

China's shuttlers are expected to dominate the podiumin Guangzhou after claiming all five titles at the Paris World Championships in August.

Although stunned by world No.1, Malaysian Lee Chong Wei, in the final of the Japan Open last month, China's world and Olympic champion Lin Dan is still the hot favourite in men's singles.

The Asiad title represents the only blank on Lin's list of major championships.

"I just take it easy about the singles title. They will be close games against any Asian opponent, and I'm mature enough to face any difficulties even another failure," said Lin, who lost to Indonesian Taufik Hidayat in the singles final at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

Besides Lin, Chen Jin, China's No.2, who is drawn with Lee in the same half, is aiming to maintain the winning form he showed in taking the Worlds title in Paris two months ago.

The tandem of Lee and Taufik is not the only force capable of spoiling the Chinese party.

Hafiz Hashim, the second ranked Malaysian shuttler, Park Sung-Hwan of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan's Kenichi Tago are also medal contenders.

On the women's side, revenge against the ROK, which upset China at the Uber Cup finals in May, will be the biggest motivation for the home side.

China's highly-ranked squad, including world No.1 Wang Xin and No.3 Wang Shixian, has tuned up well after the Worlds triumph in August to get ready for medal challengers from Malaysia, Hong Kong and the ROK.

"Our target is to grab more gold medals than last time at Doha," said head coach Li Yongbo.

India's Saina Nehwal, the world No.3, is another to watch out for. The 20-year-old from Hyderabad has enjoyed a fine year, including winning gold at the Commonwealth Games last month.

Meanwhile, the all-powerful Chinese paddlers are again expected to make a clean sweep in Guangzhou.

Singapore, which shocked defending champion China at the World Team Championships in May, stands a chance to break the host team's juggernaut, while Japan and the ROK could also surprise.

China will feature Doha Asian Games gold medalists Ma Lin, Wang Hao and Guo Yue and they will be joined by their younger and already well-established teammates, Ma Long and Liu Shiwen.

Three-time Asiad gold medalist Wang Linqin was replaced by 20-year-old Xu Xin on the roster just one week ahead of the games' tip-off on November 13.

"Replacing Wang with Xu is to let the youngsters learn more from top-level multi-sports games and to help them get ready for the 2012 London Olympics. But Wang still has a chance to go to London," said men's coach Liu Guoliang.

Led by world No.11 Li Na, China's tennis team is hoping to break its Asian Games record of three gold medals at Beijing's Asiad in 1990.

As usual, the success is likely to come from the women's side.

"The Asian Games is a proper stage for the young aces to grow. But we are here for the gold medals, especially for the women's team," said head coach Jiang Hongwei, who led the female squad to two gold and three bronze at the Doha Games.

China is favoured to win the women's team event, boasting balanced power in singles and doubles play.

Veteran Peng Shuai and upcoming Zhang Shuai are the top two singles title hopes, but they will face tough challenges from Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm and Indian Sania Mirza.

The inclusion of Yan Zi, a two-time Grand Slam women's doubles title winner, boosts China's chances of winning the doubles event.

As the women go for gold, China's men's squad will be satisfied with a medal of any colour.

The young team, led by Zhang Ze, Gong Maoxin and Bai Yan, will gain valuable experience at the Asian Games, where Lu Yen-hsun, the world No.43 from Chinese Taipei, is the title favourite.

"What they need is patience and confidence," coach Lu Ling said of China's men's squad.

China looks for golden streak

Since 1982, China has dominated track and field at the Asian Games, and the simple aim this time around is to maintain that high standard in Guangzhou.

Liu Xiang on his way to finishing third in the 110m hurdles at the Shanghai IAAF Diamond league athletics meet on May 23.

"The basic goal for the whole team is to maintain the leading position in the gold medal tally of the sport," said Feng Shuyong, Head Coach of China's national track and field team.

"The situation will be complex during the competitions, but our main rival is still the Japanese team," Feng said.

At the Doha Asian Games four years ago, China claimed 14 gold medals in track and field, followed by Bahrain with six and Japan with five.

"Before 1982, the Japanese dominated the sport in Asia. But no matter - at the Asian Games or other major events - our own performances are what we are interested in. We hope the athletes can focus on their training and not feel too much pressure to perform on home soil."

Although China's star hurdler, Liu Xiang, has been shadowed by injury since the Beijing Games in 2008, the former Olympic and world champion is still the man to watch in Guangzhou; just as he was two years ago at the Beijing Olympic Games.

The Shanghai hurdler is confident of winning his third successive Asian Games title.

"I want to win at my third Asian Games and add another gold medal for China," Liu said before heading for the Games. "I have been in good form recently and I want to get the right feeling back. My biggest opponent in each race is myself, and I think my confidence is based on real power."

The 110m hurdles is considered one of China's strongest events in athletics. China's No.2 hurdler, Shi Dongpeng, who defeated Liu at the Shanghai Diamond League meet in May, is likely to make it a 1-2 finish for the host nation.

Other potential gold medalists include World Championship men's 20km walk runner-up Wang Hao, women's marathon world champion, Bai Xue, veteran marathoner Zhou Chunxiu, women's hammer thrower Zhang Wenxiu and women's discus World Cup champion Li Yanfeng.

Due to a foot injury, Bai won't run in the marathon at the Guangzhou Asian Games, but will instead compete in the women's 10,000m. That makes veteran Zhou, the 2007 London Marathon champion, the favourite to win the marathon.

Race walker Wang is recovering from a leg injury and will face a stiff challenge from the Japanese.

"All the season's best results have been from Japanese athletes. We have to raise our own levels if we are to achieve victory in Guangzhou," said Feng.

Source : China Daily

Asian Games : Football

Result Match of Thursday, 11 November

Men's Pool Matches Group E : HONGKONG, CHINA vs BANGLADESH 4:1 (3:1)

Men's Pool Matches Group E : UZBEKISTAN vs UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 0:3 (0:2)

Men's Pool Matches Group F : OMAN vs PAKISTAN 2:0 (1:0)

Men's Pool Matches Group F : THAILAND vs MALDIVES 0:0

Men's Pool Matches Group D : INDIA vs SINGAPORE 4:1 (1:0)

Men's Pool Matches Group D : QATAR vs ATHLETES from KUWAIT 2:0 (1:0)

Source : The Official Website of the 16th Asian Games

Stamps celebrating Games Opening Ceremony available on Nov 11

The Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) annouced the release of a series of commerative stamps celebrating the Opening Ceremony of the 16th Asian Games and Games-time philatelic items at a press conference held at MPC (Main Press Centre) on the afternoon of Wednesday.

Officiating guests were Liu Jiangnan, Deputy Secretary General of GAGOC and Director General of Guangzhou Municipal Sport Bureau, and Zhang Zongwu, General Manager and Party Secretary of Guangdong Postal Bureau.

At the press event

Newly-released philatelic items for the 16th Asian Games

Newly-released philatelic items for the 16th Asian Games

Liu told reporters that the commemorative stamps under the theme of competition venues and sports events of the Guangzhou Asian Games include first-day covers, postmarks and series of official stamp products celebrating the Opening Ceremony of the 16th Asian Games, which fully show Guangzhou's great achievements in venue construction as well as the uniqueness and splendour of the Games.

The commemorative stamps consist of six pieces in one set, with the face value of 8.6 yuan. Featuring Badminton, Wushu, Athletics, Equestrian, Dragon Boat and Weiqi, these stamps are printed in photogravure and issued in different sizes by China Post which has already issued a total of 23 official Games-time stamp products of five categories, and will release stamped envelopes themed on Asian Games gold medal athletes as well as individual stamp booklets of a special format during the Games.

The commemorative stamps, first-day covers, postmarks and official stamp products celebrating the Opening Ceremony of the 16th Asian Games will be available at all post offices in Guangzhou and postal service points in major competition venues from 18:00 of November 11.

Suharso Suhandinata (1916-2010)

Former International Badminton Federation Executive Board member Suharso Suhandinata passed away on Thursday 11 November 2011 in Jakarta. He was 94.

Suharso, widely credited for his role together with the late Dick Sudirman in the unification of the then International Badminton Federation (IBF) and World Badminton Federation (WBF) in 1981, was an embodiment of grace and merit, serving the establishment at various levels but most prominently as an administrator and a diplomat.

Suharso played a major role in pushing for the then IBF to include the Sudirman Cup in its calendar in memory of the efforts of Dick Sudirman in uniting IBF and WBF.

He was also well known for his passion and commitment towards the development of badminton for youth, a fact which is clearly demonstrated in the running of his family’s club – Tangkas.

And in recognition of the family’s contribution to badminton, especially badminton for youth, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) renamed the World Junior Team Championship to the Suhandinata Cup in 2008.

Born third to a family of seven on 20 September 1916 in Bandung, Indonesia, Suharso completed his education at the La Salle college in Hong Kong and returned home to join his family business in Jakarta.

A player in his younger days, Suharso soon realised that his niche was rather in the management of the sport and so in 1962 took over the running of Tangkas.

This was to be the start of a journey that saw him rise through the ranks of the Indonesian Badminton Federation (PBSI) to a seat on the Executive Board of the then International Badminton Federation to which he was elected in 1975 and served until 1983.

A long serving member of the PBSI, the affable Suharso, the doyen of the Suhandinata family, was a highly respected member of the international badminton community.

Probably his greatest contribution to the sport and a personal achievement could be traced to 26^th May 1981. On this day, the IBF and the breakaway World Badminton Federation were unified as one body after a break of three years. Suharso, along with his mentor Dr. Sudirman, was primarily instrumental in bringing the two federations together through the initiation of a series of meetings between the two parties.

The BWF also honoured Suharso with the Distinguished Service Award in 1986. He was also recipient of Indonesia’s highest award for a sport activist in 1971, the Satya Lencana Kebudayaan.

Though Suharso had not been active in the sport in his later years, his interest in the sport that he had devoted a lifetime to, never waned. He continued to be an interested party, deriving great pleasure watching it on the television, reading in the papers and journals and sharing it with the ‘legacy’ he has left behind his sons – Justian, Juniarto, Franklin and Ricky.

Justian emulated his dad and his now a member in the Council of the BWF while Juniarto is a Certificated Referee. His two other children Franklin and Ricky are in the family business.

Suharso Suhandinata, who had lost his wife in 2008, leaves behind 4 sons, 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

He will be laid to rest on Sunday 14^th November 2010 in the city of Trangerang, some 20km west of Jakarta.

Source : Badminton World Federation