Asiad 2023: Why do certain events of Hangzhou 2023 begin on September 19

Fans of the Asian Games are confused as to why certain events like football cricket and Volleyball begin on September 19 while the opening ceremony is on September 23

The Asian Games are finally here and it will begin on September 19, 2023. It might come as a shock to many that the official date of the Opening ceremony is September 23 and the games are starting on September 19. However, according to the schedule shared by the organising committee of the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, certain sports will begin on Tuesday, September 19 and Cricket is one of them. 

Which sporting events will begin on September 19 at the Asian Games?

According to the general competition schedule of the Asian Games 2023 shared on the official website of the Hangzhou Asian Games on August 31, 2023, cricket, football, beach volleyball and volleyball will begin on September 19, 2023. Other sports such as modern pentathlon and rowing will begin on September 20, 2023. Sailing will start on September 21, while Table Tennis will start on September 22. These are the only sports that will begin before the start of the opening ceremony on September 23. 

Also Read: Asiad 2023: India football teams' full schedule, squads. match timings

India’s participation in events starting on September 19

Indian football, volleyball, rowing, sailing and table tennis teams alongside Indian women’s cricket teams will take part in events starting before September 23, 2023, at the Hangzhou Asian Games. 

Indian football team under the leadership of Sunil Chhetri will begin its campaign at the Asian Games 2023 against hosts China starting September 18 onwards. The match will be played from 05:00 pm IST onwards. The Indian men’s volleyball team will also be in action on September 19. They will take on Cambodia in a Group C encounter from 04:30 pm IST onwards. No other Indian player or team will be in action on September 19. 

India’s schedule for the Asian Games 2023 of all events

The Indian team will be looking to better its record medal haul of 70 medals which included 16 gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games. Though various sporting programmes will begin before September 23, the medal rounds of all sports will start only after the opening ceremony on September 23, 2023. 

A total of 655 athletes from India will take part in 41 sporting disciplines out of 61. A total of 481 gold medals are on offer at the Hangzhou Asian Games. 

India's day-wise schedule for Asian Games 2023

Sport	Dates	Events	Indian athletes competing
Archery	October 1-7	10	16
Athletics	September 29 - October 5	48	68
Badminton	September 28 - October 7	7	19
Basketball (5x5)	September 26 - October 6	2	12 (1 team)
Basketball (3x3)	September 25 - October 1	2	8 (2 teams)
Boxing	September 24 - October 5	13	13
Bridge	September 27 - October 6	3	18
Cricket	September 19 - October 7	2	30 (2 teams)
Chess	September 24 - October 7	4	10
Canoe Slalom	October 5-7	4	4
Canoe Sprint	September 30 - October 3	12	13
Cycling Track	September 26-29	12	14
Diving	September 30 - October 4	10	2
Equestrian	September 26 - October 6	6	10
Esports	September 24 - October 2	7	15
Football	September 19-27	2	44 (2 teams)
Fencing	September 24-29	12	9
Golf	September 28 to October 1	4	7
Hockey	September 24 to October 7	2	36 (2 teams)
Handball	September 24 - October 5	2	16 (1 team)
Judo	September 24-27	15	4
Ju-Jitsu	October 5-7	8	11
Kabaddi	October 2-7	2	24 (2 teams)
Kurash	September 30 - October 2	7	6
Modern Pentathlon	September 20-24	2	1
Rugby Sevens	September 24-26	2	12 (1 team)
Rowing	September 20-25	14	33
Roller skating	September 30 - October 7	10	14
Sailing	September 21-27	14	16
Sepaktakraw	September 24 - October 7	6	16
Shooting	September 24 - October 1	33	33
Squash	September 26 - October 5	5	8
Soft tennis	October 3-7	5	10
Swimming	September 24-29	41	21
Sport Climbing	October 3-7	6	7
Tennis	September 24-30	5	9
Table Tennis	September 22 - October 2	7	10
Volleyball	September 19 - October 7	2	24 (2 teams)
Weightlifting	September 30 - October 7	14	2
Wrestling	October 4 - 7	18	18
Wushu	September 24-28	15	10