Level Field: Hangzhou Asian Games

Showing posts with label Hangzhou Asian Games. Show all posts

Sunday, November 26, 2023

If there is a will, there is a way to the top

apakhabartv Sport September 29, 2023 4 Minutes

Discipline, passion and patriotism are three factors for China’s amazing hosting and performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games, which began with the official opening ceremony last Saturday.

These are three factors, which if emulated by Malaysian citizens and sportsmen and women alike, which can propel Malaysian to greater heights.

Not that Malaysians do not have the three qualities, but definitely not in the same degree as the Chinese.

Be it Chinese athletes or their citizens, their commitment towards their nation’s success is unquestionable and at the highest level.

China are targeting a record 200 gold medal from 61 disciplines, 40 sports from the 481 gold medals at stake. A total of 12,400 athletes from 45 nations are competing in Hangzhou.

The host came close to the 200 mark the last time they hosted the Games in Guangzhou in 2010, when they won 199 gold medals.

Surely a target which looks like they are on the road to achieve.

China have won a whopping 1,473 gold, 994 silver and 72 bronze since they made their debut in 1974 – competing in 12 out of 19 editions since 1954.

Malaysia on the other hand, who has competed in every Asian Games since making its debut in 1954 competing as Malaya between 1954 and 1962.

Bowling and squash have provided Malaysia with its most gold medals. In 2014 bowler Shalin Zulkifli became the first Malaysian athlete to win eight career medals at the Asian Games, including four gold, while star squash player Nicol David is the most successful Malaysian at the Games with seven gold medals.

Both David and Zulkifli won their ninth Asian Games medal in 2018 and also became the first Malaysians to compete at six editions of the Games in Indonesia.

Athletics and badminton have also proved to be lucrative sports for Malaysia over the years. Sprinter Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan and badminton player Boon Bee Ng have won more medals than any other male Malaysian athlete.

Between 1962 and 1966 Jegathesan won four gold, two silver and one bronze medal, including the sprint treble of victories in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m in 1966, while Bee Ng claimed four gold, one silver and two bronze from 1962 to 1970.

At the 2018 Games in Indonesia, the NOC posted its third-best performance with seven gold among 36 total medals.

Malaysia has won a total of 63 gold, 101 silver, 148 bronze medals for a total of 312 in 18 editions.

Malaysia has a population of 32.37 million.

Esports made it’s debut in Hangzhou, and China won a gold medal already.

That is China. They mean business and once it is an official sports at a Games, they go all out win gold medals.

Basically, it is the discipline, determination and dedication of the athletes and the kind of strict training which see them achieve.

The athletes are not pampered and have to undergo long hours and rigorous training, without any complaints and having to make numerous personal sacrifices. The athletes shed, sweat, tears and even blood to achieve their goals.

Of course their huge population of 1.425,672,352 equvilant to 17.72 percent total world population, gives them a huge base to select their athletes from.

*Malaysia versus Indonesia on Thursday.*

But then again, a huge base is no guarantee to success, without proper development programmes from a young age, proper coaching, sacrifices, the discipline and determination of the athletes and the desire to bring honour to their nation.

It is no different in China’s effort to make this Asian Games Zero-waste Games.

It required the discipline and support of their citizens, who toed the line to adhere to all requirements to keep the city spin and span.
Zero-waste Asian Games refers to the minimisation of solid waste, the maximisation of supplies, utility and the 100% environmental disposal of materials during the application, organisation and process of the largest comprehensive Asian Games.

Central Hangzhou’s plans to reduce carbon emissions is the use of green electricity and cutting-edge technologies fitted in perfectly for the host to deliver the first carbon-neutral Asian Games.

Asian Games family and visitors were greeted to vehicles, including scooters and motorcycles, which were moving silently utilising electricity, was indeed a welcoming sight.

China as the inventor of fireworks, doing away with the traditional fireworks display at the Opening Ceremony of the Asian Games and replacing them a digital light show, without taking away any glamour witnessed at opening ceremonies, was indeed commendable.

The giant digital Torchbearer who joined Olympic gold medallist Wang Shun to light the Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, marked that fireworks was a thing of the past.

The Opening Ceremony saw heavy technology used to mesmerise the crowd at the Stadium and those watching on television. Several special effects like the ‘digital fireworks’ was not visible to the spectators at the stadium, except seeing it on the big screen at the stadium.

It was sheer discipline and determination to deliver an unique experience, which saw it become a reality.

Without doubt, a very commendable act by the people of China, to showcase to the world what they are capable of.

If only the people and athletes of Malaysia can emulate what the Chinese have displayed, we will definitely be moving to higher grounds.

Yes, Malaysia is a diversified nation with several races and culture, but when we can live harmoniously respecting each others believes and culture, surely we can work together to make our nation better, while the athletes can strive even harder and making sacrifices to bring honour to our nation.

Pressurised cooker?

apakhabartv Sport September 22, 2023 4 Minutes

What is pressure?

Pressure is an everyday part of our working lives. Philosopher Thomas Carlyle said, “No pressure, no diamonds,” suggesting that, in manageable doses, it can energise and motivate one to perform and achieve.

Too much of it, however, can tip the balance the other way. The trick to making pressure work for you, and not against you, is to find the “sweet spot” between having too little and too much of it.

However we should not confuse pressure with stress – they are quite different. Pressure can be a very positive quality.

Experiencing it, yet feeling calm and in control, can spur people on to achieve great things. It’s only when it keeps building and that sense of calm and order is replaced by a feeling of being out of control that stress happens, and has a wholly negative effect.

Thus, it did come as a surprise when Malaysian Chef De Mission to Hangzhou Asian Games, Datuk Chong Kim Fatt, said that announcing only the gold medal target will put additional pressure on the athletes and it will affect their performance.

Instead, the Malaysian contingent for the Games, starting from Saturday till Oct 8, have been set a total medal target of 27 medals, for the contingent of 289 athletes, who will compete in 22 out of the 40 sports.

Chong had said the decision was made after taking into account the views of all the parties involved, including Japan’s Nippon Sport Science University, which has forged a close collaboration with the National Sports Council (NSC).

While National Sports Council athlete division director Jefri Ngadirin said such a move (not announcing specific targets) was adopted by many other countries, including world powers like Japan and Australia as well as Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and the Philippines.

While the move received heavy criticism from several quarters, the move actually had its pros and cons and need to be viewed accordingly.

To say it will remove the pressure from the athletes certainly cannot be accepted because every athlete know for a fact that competing in sports, especially at high level, natural comes with pressure and they have manage it to become better athletes.

Besides, there is the National Sports Institute (NSI), with their sports physiologists who are supposed to help the athletes if they underwent any sort of pressure.

Obviously, the targets to be set are not picked from thin air, but after careful analyse of the particular athlete or team’s current performance or against current results of opponents, thus is realistic targets.

Also all National Associations had met with up with NSC recently to give a realistic target based on the current form and results of their athletes or team.

Thus, NSC already have the targets on their table.

So the question to be asked now is who is being protected from pressure – the national associations and NSC – to deliver the projection?

Some sports like hockey, sepak takraw and track cycling, have come out boldly to predict their gold medal target and this only goes to show they believe in themselves and are not concerned over the so called ‘pressure’.

Then again, some countries including European countries, do not predict the actual medal targets not because of worry of the pressure, but feel that injuries, form on that day, falling sick on that day and surprise performances of opponents, could throw their prediction out of the window.

Then, I have heard personally some European coaches and officials saying that if they can predict gold medals, then why compete.

Thus, whether to predict gold medals or not, is subjective, for personally reasons or associations and authorities shying away from putting themselves accountable and certainly not because of putting pressure on athletes.

But that Chong, in the same breath had said that they will be banking on diving, badminton, track cycling, equestrian, hockey, karate, archery, athletics, sailing, sepak takraw, squash, wushu and e-sports to deliver the medals, only shows they have targets but were playing safe not to identify where they expect the gold to come from.

Then it said that Malaysia have already “lost” 12 medals (won from the previous edition in Indonesia) due to certain events not being held this time in Hangzhou.

Statements like these, certainly look like they preparing themselves with ready-made excuses, if they return with a poor showing.

*The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, the main venue of the Hangzhou Asian Games. – Photo Credit VCG*

Malaysia should be striving to excel at the Asian level and not prepare themselves with excuses.

We have to start aiming high instead of beating our chests with performances at the regional Sea Games.

Malaysia, had set a seven-gold target for the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, managed to return home with 36 medals – seven golds, 13 silvers and 16 bronzes.

Away from the Asian Games, the recent resignation of football coach E. Elavarasan, despite leading the Malaysian Under-23 team to the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup, has also been linked to pressure after nitizens called for the coach resignation.

So was it pressure that forced Ella, as he is fondly known, to resign?

If one knows Elavarasan, he is not one who succumb to pressure but one who strives on pressure to deliver.

The Tamil name Elavarasan translated in English, is Prince or Son King. And true to his name, he is a warrior.

Obviously, there is more to his resignation than the eyes meet.

Afterall, he did not ask for the national U23 job, as the national assistant coach to national coach Kim Pang-gon, was asked to take charge so that the junior team is trained the same as the national team so there is a synergy between the two.

Also, Elavarasan only took over the team in September last year, replacing Australian Brad Maloney and in the short period, his performance should be judged fairly. It was inherited squad he had and with due respect to the players, we also have to look the quality of the squad and their improvement.

Maybe the powers to be did not stand by him, when criticisms were hurled at him.

Only Ella and FA of Malaysian can answer this question.

So pressures comes in many forms, and managing it and using it to motivate oneself to deliver is what makes a better man and not hiding behind it.

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Hangzhou all set for Asian Games after 'most difficult decision'

By Tony Mariadass - July 6, 2023 @ 10:31pm

Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium venues of the 19th Asian Games. -AFP file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: It was probably the best decision by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to postpone last year's Asian Games in Hangzhou to September this year due to the Covid pandemic.

OCA Director General Captain Hussain Al-Musallam said at the World Press Briefing/World Broadcasters meeting in Hangzhou last week: "It was the most difficult decision in the history of OCA and it was made with the full support of Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) and the Chinese Olympic Committee.

"Looking back, we believe it was the correct decision. Looking forward, we now have a free and open 19th Asian Games with the athletes, national committees, spectators and media can truly embrace and create a spirit of friendship and unity.

"OCA is very proud of our Asian Games, and the Hangzhou postponement is another example of everyone working together in order to guarantee the best conditions and environment for all concerned, notably our athletes."

HANGZHOU READY TO ROLL FOR 19TH ASIAN GAMES

apakhabartv Uncategorized July 6, 2023 4 Minutes

By Tony Mariadass

It was the probably the best decision to postpone the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on May 6 last year by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on May 6 last year, to move the Games by one year from the original dates of September 10-25,2022 to Sept 25 to October this year due to the COVID pandemic.

As Captain Hussain Al-Musallam, the Director General of OCA said in his speech at the Second World Press Briefing/ World Broadcasters Meeting in Hangzhou in China last week,: “It was the most difficult decision in the history of OCA and it was made with full support of Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) and the Chinese Olympic Committee.

“Looking back, we believe it was the correct decision. Looking forward, we now have a free and open 19th Asian Games with the athletes, National Committees, spectators and media can truly embrace and create a spirit of friendship and unity,” said Hussain said in his read speech.

Indeed, it was a difficult decision, but the Hangzhou Asian Games will forever go down in history as an unique Games and probably the best prepared Games.

“OCA is very proud of our Asian Games – and the Hangzhou postponement is another example of everyone working together in order to guarantee the best conditions and environment for all concerned, notably our athletes.”

Without doubt the postponement was a major test and burden to HAGOC, as all facilities were ready even before the announcement of the postponement.

But Kudos to HAGOC, they have maintained all the facilities spick and span for most two years now to welcome the Asian family to the Games in two months time.

It was indeed an humongous task for HAGOC to maintain and manage the facilities but with the resilience, dedication, commitment and passion, they have come out with flying colours

.It was the first time in the history of the Games that the people of the host nation got to use the competition facilities before the athletes for the Games.

HAGOC had opened the doors for booking of the facilities and in some cases allowed to use the facilities for free.

During the recent Second World Press Briefing/ World Broadcasters Meeting and the tour of facilities, it was evident that HAGOC have done an excellent job to maintain the facilities and if a decision was taken to host the Games next week, everything was ready to go!

From airport arrival facilitation which included special lanes for immigration, baggage arrivals at the carousels and custom clearance is all in place including at arrival pointless besides Hangzhou, which included Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Urumqi Diwopu International Airports, is all in place and ready to be activated.

The media who came for the briefing had first hand experience of the services.

The overlays (signages) are all in place and from the airport the Asian Games atmosphere is alive and hits one in the faces.

The briefing was thorough and went through all details with a fine comb headed by host Xu Jianfeng, the deputy Director of the International Relations Department of HAGOC.

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, one of the central cities in China’s southeast coast. About 170 kilometres from Shanghai, it covers an area of 16,600 square kilometres with a permanent population of 11.94 million people.

Hangzhou is a city of innovation and Vitality E-commerce is booming in Hangzhou, where a click of the mouse connects the world. Hangzhou hosts the headquarters of world renowed enterprises such as Alibaba, Wanxianbg, Wahaha and Hikvision. It is China’s fist cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zone, gathering more than one-third of China’s e-commerce comprehensive enterprises.

Thus, it is not surprise that the slogan for the 19th Asian Games has tech elements as it reads: Heart to Heart, @Future.

The Games has the perfect branding, identity and look of the Games which is all modern.

Everything is in place from the competition and training venues, press operations and facilities, arrival and departure facilities, transport and logistics, catering and accommodation, the Asian Games Village for Athletes, Technical officials and Media and IT services.

On top of that, official hotels and medical services are also in place.

This will be the third time China will be hosting the Asian Games after Beijing (1990) and Guangzhou (2010). China have also hosted the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008 and the Winter Olympics in 2022.

At the two-day 2nd WPB at Hangzhou International Expo Center top officials were present to give first hand information on the Games to the print and broadcast media.

Senior officials from OCA and China’s national, provincial and municipal governments, major media organizations and key institutions, including Mr. Jian Zhou, Director of Media & Broadcast Department of OCA, Mr. Chen Weiqiang, Deputy Secretary General of HAGOC and Vice Mayor of Hangzhou, Mrs. Xu Jing, Deputy Director General of the Press and Publicity Department of the General Administration of Sport of China, Mrs. Fan Qingyu, Deputy Chief of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee were present.

Attending the 2nd WPB were more than 80 agencies in China and oversea, including nearly 200 participants in person and other hundreds on line from across the Asia.

Following the report from HAGOC, up to now, there are 12,000 athletes, 5,000 officials, 4,700 technical officials and 12,000 media who will attend the 19th Asian Games – Hangzhou 2022.

HAGOC has recruited about 50,000 volunteers to serve for the event. Marketing activities got a good achievement when they have signed up 178 sponsors and have secured about 4,615 billion RMB (around 65 millions USD).

During the meeting, participants also toured Asian Games venues including Hangzhou Binjiang Gymnasium, Media Village and International Expo Centre (as MMC), particularly media facilities at the competition venues and accommodation in the Media Village.

The Media Village located alongside the Qiantang River on a built up area of 660,000 square metres has a total of 31 buildings with 2,551 apartments to accommodate 5,000 accredited media professionals an rights-holding broadcasters.

The Main Media Centre (MMC) is located at the Hangzhou International Expo Centre which consists of the Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcast Centre (IBC), the Host Broadcaster Operations Centre (HB), the Life area, and the Commercial services area. It is also equipped with transport facilities sitting on a 34,000 square metres area.

The Athletes Village has 37 towers which has 2,696 apartments and 10,400 beds.

There is also a Technical Officials Village all in the same vicinity as the Media and Athletes Village.

Probably, Chairman of OCA Media Committee, Charles Loo best summed it up when he said in his speech read by Jeans Zhou Jian, OCA Director of Media and Broadcast Department,: “ We are in safe hands in China and can expect a memorable Games.”