End of Asian Games 2018 The 18th Asian Games closed at a glittering ceremony in Jakarta on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on a two-week tournament featuring 40 sports. “I declare the 18th Asian Games closed,” said Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia. Bach hopeful Olympics chief Thomas Bach is to open talks with North and South Korea about marching and competing together at the 2020 Tokyo Games, he said on Sunday. More wishes With a total of 15 GOLD 24 SILVER & 30 BRONZE medals, India has recorded it's BEST EVER RUN in the history of #ASIANGAMES at #ASIANGAMES2018. Hats off to our athletes, who accomplished this feat with sheer tenacity, determination and hard work. We r all proud of them! #KheloIndia pic.twitter.com/vfcEOzHIGU — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) September 2, 2018 Jinson on Manjit It was disappointing for Jinson Johnson not to win the 800m but the 1500m Asiad champion was far from surprised that compatriot Manjit Singh pipped him for the top prize in his pet 800m event. A special wish As the #AsianGames2018 come to a close, I once again congratulate the Indian contingent for their excellent performance. The 2018 Games have been the best for India in the history of the Asian Games. Every athlete who took part in the Games is India’s pride. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 2, 2018 Contingents celebrate The contingents are slowly entering the arena and the excitement is clear from their faces. The rain is showing no signs of slowing down but the ceremony is in full swing. Teams are here The teams are here and the flag-bearers are coming out one by one. Rani Rampal is the official flag-bearer for India. Ceremony begins The proceedings begin with a fireworks show and the national anthem of Indonesia. Closing ceremony underway The lights are off and the stadium is ready for the closing ceremony. What an event it has been and although it is raining in Jakarta, it is not enough to douse the enthusiasm of the crowd. Japan’s future promise Now comes the hard part for Japan, which is pledging to win 30 gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Japan is sure to get a “medal bounce” as the Olympic host country. But how big? China got a giant one at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Britain capitalized in 2012 in London. Japan and the first female MVP Teenage swimming sensation Rikako Ikee said she would celebrate with barbecued beef and sushi as she was named the best athlete at the Asian Games on Sunday. Ikee, 18, who grabbed a record six gold medals in Jakarta, said she hoped she had put Japanese swimming on the map ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Indonesia’s pride Indonesia’s hosting of the Asian Games and a record haul of gold medals have swelled national pride, providing a boost to the re-election campaign of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. India’s superstar Swapna Barman stood out with her twelve toes -- six per foot -- to clinch gold in heptathlon, chipping in to help India achieve a record 69 medals at the continental games. Asian Games medal haul The best-ever medal haul at the 2018 Asian Games is a leap forward for Indian sport after the Commonwealth Games medal spurt. From teenager Saurabh Chaudhary to 60-year-old Pranab Bardhan, an assortment of athletes combined to produce a top show even as the country endured shocking results in kabaddi and hockey. Hello and welcome The 15-day extravaganza is coming to and end and it is time for the Asian Games 2018 closing ceremony.<doc-sep>Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony Live Streaming: Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday. (Source: File) Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony Live Streaming: Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday. (Source: File) Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony Live Streaming: Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday with the Indian contingent being led by India Women’s Hockey team captain Rani Rampal. As per the Asian Games website, the Closing Ceremony will carry the high spirit of ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’ and will explore Indonesian heritage through arts and cultural show, which will be helmed by the creative director of the event and the CEO of Net Mediatama Television Wishnutama. There will be several dancers, musicians, singers and artists native to the country will be performing at the Gelora Bung Karnoa Main Stadium in Jakarta, including performances from choreographers Eko Supriyanto and Denny Malik, Musicians Addie MS and Ronald Steven, Costume Designer Rinaldo Yunardi and Dynand Fariz and the legandary artists Sunaryo. When will the Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony be held? The Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 2, 2018. Where is the Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony being held? The Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony will be held at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. What time does live coverage of Asian Games 2018 Opening Ceremony start? The Closing Ceremony of Asian Games 2018 will begin after the Triathlon event, at around 5 PM IST. How do I watch the Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony? The Closing Ceremony will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Ten 2 HD, Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD. How do I follow Asian Games 2018 Closing Ceremony live online? Live online streaming will be available on Sony LIV. You can follow Live commentary and social media updates here on IndianExpress.com<doc-sep>18:53 (IST) Sep 02 A representative from the city of Hangzhou (China) waves the Olympic Council of Asia flag after it was handed over by Indonesia. (Reuters Photo)<doc-sep>By UNI JAKARTA: Underrated by a heavy downpour, Jakarta bade an emotional "Selamat Tinggal" (Farewell) to thousands of sportspersons from the continent with a carefree closing ceremony full of fabulous colours, throbbing music and frenzied dance at the historic Gelora Bung Karno stadium here on Sunday Night. Indonesia which surprised many a naysayer by staging a spectacular Asian Games withstood the nature's onslaught on the last day as the packed GBK stadium in unison defied the odds to hail their country's success in hosting the games. It was a celebration of closing of a magnificent joy-filled event that capped 15 days of intense competition. For the physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted athletes from 45 countries, Jakarta gave them an occasion to let their hair down and for a moment rejoice in having participated in the continent's biggest, and the world's second-biggest, multi-sports event. While the opening of the Jakarta games was on a colossal scale, a show of Indonesia's rich cultural traditions, the closing function was all about Asia, a time to display the strong bonds of its nation members. Indian athletes march into the closing ceremony for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta. (Photo | AP) Everything about it was a reflection of peace, stability, togetherness and prosperity, emphasised particularly by the two Koreas unifying for the first time at an Asian Games. The theme of single Asian community! For Indonesia, a country that has recently been through difficult times, the Games gave it an opportunity to show it can overcome all obstacles to put up a good show. If the Opening Ceremony wowed the audience for the richness of Indonesia's heritage, the closing of the games was a modest in its scale but extravagant in its liveliness. It was celebrating sportspersons, an appreciation for their coming here and making the event such a huge success. It highlighted the cultures of not just Indonesia but that of other Asian nations by featuring artistes from India, China and Korea. The focus was music. There was Sidharth Slathia from India, the much acclaimed ikon and Super Junior from Korea besides Indonesia's own talents like Isyana Saraswati, Dira Sugandi, RAN and Bunga Citra Lestari. They had the jam-packed stadium on fire with their music. Before the musical jamboree started, the athletes came into the stadium to loud cheers. The loudest cheer besides the host country went to China and Japan who finished first and second on the medals list. For those packed into the GBK arena added joy was the superb performance by hosts country athletes, and their fourth place standing in the medal tally. The Indian contingent led by women hockey team's captain Rani Rampal was particulary in high spirits having staged its best ever performance in Asian Games with 69 medals, 15 of them Gold. For India, Indonesia was a happy hunting ground and they will take back rich memories. But on Sunday night, at the closing ceremony, the athletes were one Asia, celebrating the occasion. However, the most vociferous and loudest cheers came for the volunteers as the whole stadium rose to a man to hail those unsung and unheralded young volunteers who tirelessy worked day and night for the success of the game and brought laurels to their Country. There is no doubt that these young volunteers were very crucial component in the smooth conduct of the games. Their behaviour and conduct was impeccable which left lasting impression on the visitors. The ceremonies closed with OCA President Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah calling on all sportspersons of the continent to meet in four years at Hangzhou (china) and the symbolic handing over of the OCA Flag to Mayor of Hangzhou Xu Li Yi. The most poignant moment of course was when the Asian Games flame was extinguished bringing a hush in the stadium. The closing ceremony left a tinge of sorrow that 15 days of high performance sports was over.<doc-sep>
The eighteenth Asian Games are finally over! That is, for India at least. On September 2, the pan-Asian Games will officially close for the next four years. The next time the games return, they will be in much different yet familiar surroundings of China. Hangzhou will host the Games in 2022. However, before that, we will head to the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta one final time, for the Closing Ceremony of the 18th Asian Games. India finishes the pan-Asian multi-sport event with their best ever medal tally. The sportswomen and men of the country contributed towards Sixty-Nine medals. In doing so, they broke their previous best tally of Sixty-five, which they achieved eight years earlier when the games were held in Guangzhou, China. Some of India's brightest prospects were on display in the cities of Jakarta and Palembang. Neeraj Chopra, Hima Das, Tainderpal Singh Toor, Vinesh Phogat, Saurabh Chaudhary, Dutee Chand, and many others showed a glimpse of what the future beholds. The Closing ceremony will keep in line with this edition's slogan- 'Energy of Asia'. The extravagant gala will, once again, feature some of Indonesia's most famous superstars. The ceremony will again showcase Indonesia's cultural aspects. Indian Women's Hockey team's Rani Rampal will be India's flag-bearer for the Closing Ceremony. Rani led the Women's team to a Silver medal finish in Hockey. Here is all you need about the upcoming 18th Asian Games: Date: September 2, 2018 Event: Closing Ceremony of the 18th Asian Games Time: After the Triathlon event Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia Broadcast: Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 1 HD, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Ten 3 HD Live Stream: Sony Liv You can also follow the live commentary of the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games, live on Sportskeeda.com