Jakarta : Indonesia bid an emotional farewell to the 18th Asian Games, displaying the same gritty spirit with which it organised the 15-day sporting extravaganza as thousands braved heavy rain to turn up for a spectacular closing ceremony here on Sunday.
The 76,000 capacity Gelora Bung Karno stadium did not attract many people when the track and field events were on but they made a beeline to watch the two-hour long closing ceremony that was high on entertainment. Indonesia’s love for Bollywood was also on full display as singer Siddharth Slathia and Denada sang popular numbers ‘Koi Mil Gaya’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hain’ and ‘Jai Ho’.
Hosting more than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries across two contrasting cities was no mean feat but a determined Indonesia pulled it off, overcoming the triple threat posed by terrorism, crime and its notorious traffic.
The successful staging of the Games, happening for the first time in Indonesia since 1962, has also given the country the confidence to bid for the 2032 Olympics. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who was at the VIP area alongside OCA chief Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah and Indonesian Vice-President, has also given a thumbs up to the country’s Olympic bid.
While the opening ceremony showcased Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage, the closing of the Games was a modest affair but still scored high on liveliness. The spectators revelled in the united spirit of Asia as artists from India, China and Korea performed.
China and Japan, who finished an expected first and second in the medals tally, were welcomed vociferously but the roar got louder when the Indonesian contingent marched in. Indonesia finished fourth in the medals tally, a drastic improvement from a top-20 finish in Incheon four years ago.
The Indian contingent was led by women hockey team’s captain and flag-bearer Rani Rampal. It was also a memorable Games for India as it produced the best ever performance with 69 medals including 15 gold, 24 silver and 30 bronze.
