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Asian Games 2014 finish with a grand cultural show

By FnF Desk | PUBLISHED: 05, Oct 2014, 15:43 pm IST | UPDATED: 05, Oct 2014, 15:45 pm IST

Asian Games 2014 finish with a grand cultural show Incheon: The thrilling dramatic and fascinating 17th edition of Asian Games concluded here with a glittering closing ceremony at Main Incheon Stadium on a cold evening Saturday.

After a grand cultural show titled Asia blossomed with dreams and Asia the hearts of peace followed by songs and a spectacular Taekwondo display the games were declared closed. It was followed by a dazzling firework show which delighted and thrilled the jam packed stadium.

Top South Korean athletes brought the flag of the host country into the stadium which was raised and their national anthem was played on the occasion.

Flag of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) was handed over to Indonesian Olympic Committee which will host next games in 2018 in Jakarta.

OCA Chief Sheikh Al Fahad Al Sabah declared the games closed as the flag was lowered and torch was extinguished. National Anthem of Indonesia was also played and their flag was hoisted as the next host and torch as handed over to Indonesian Governor of Sumatra.

Japan’s swimming sensation Hajino Kosko who won the four gold medals was declared Samsung Most Valuable Player of the game from among the eight top athletes picked for the award by a panel of media persons and others.

OCA Chief Shaikh Al Fahad Al Sabah presented the award to Kosuke Hajino to the thunderous applause of the audience. Hajino in a brilliant display won the 200 and 400 meters individual medleys 200m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay. He also bagged a silver medal in 400m freestyle and bronze medals in 100m and 200m backstroke.

Before the contingent’s march past Korean girls in an impressive fashion carried the flags of 45 participating nation into the stadium to the cheer and applause of strong crowd of around 60,000.

A small Pakistan contingent took part in the march past as majority of the players including cricket, hockey, football and chef de mission Chaudhary Muhammad Yaqoob had gone back home to celebrate Eidul Azha. President of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Syed Arif Hasan had already left for Karachi to see his mother.

Like always, sports powerhouse China dominated the continental sporting extravaganza winning 342 medals including 151 golds, 108 silver and 83 bronze. Host Korea also asserted their supremacy in the games by scooping up 234 medals including 79 gold, 71 silver and 84 bronze while Japan stood third with 47, 76 and 77.

Pakistan finished 23rd on the medal table after grabbing a gold in women’s cricket, silver medal in men’s hockey and three bronze medals through Muhammad Waseem (boxing) Maratib Ali Shah (Wushu) and Kabbadi. (APP)
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