Asian Games: GBK to hog limelight

Jakarta: The Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex here will host most of the action as the 18th Asian Games begin on Saturday. The renovated Gelora Bung Karno Stadium or GBK will host 13 events. Both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as athletics will be staged at GBK.

The crowd capacity at GBK has been cut down from 88,000 to 76,127 taking into account security aspect as well as the comforts of the spectators.

India won their lone gold medal in Asian Games football at the GBK way back in 1962, with a 2-1 win over South Korea in the final. It was also the last time Indonesia hosted the mega event.

The Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex will also stage badminton, basketball, aquatics, volleyball, hockey, baseball, basketball 3x3, softball, archery, rugby, squash, in addition to martial sports such as fencing, judo, karate, jujitsu, wrestling, kurash, sambo and taekwondo.

The flags of the participating nations have been hoisted outside the sports complex while the final stage of preparations are under way at the venues.

There are also 11 other venues in Jakarta while Palembang will host 12 events, including shooting and tennis. West Java and Banten will host five events.

The Athletes’ Village has been set up in North Jakarta at Kemayoran. The next fortnight will witness athletes from 45 countries (The Koreas are fielding a unified team in rowing, canoeing and basketball) battle for continental glory in 484 disciplines in 42 sports.