All roads lead to China for 19th Asian Games

Esports League of Legends Vietnamese national team players prepare for a friendly match against South Korea ahead of the upcoming Asian Games, Gwangmyeong, South Korea, Sept. 11, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 14 September 2023
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All roads lead to China for 19th Asian Games

  • Saudi Arabia is sending 193 athletes to the games, where they will compete across 19 sports ranging from fencing to wrestling and rowing to golf
  • Archery, artistic swimming, boxing, breakdancing, hockey, modern pentathlon, sailing, tennis and water polo events will serve as Olympic qualifiers for Paris 2024

RIYADH: All roads lead to China for the 19th Asian Games, which will take place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8.

Saudi Arabia is sending 193 athletes to the games, where they will compete across 19 sports ranging from fencing to wrestling and rowing to golf.

The host nation will have 886 athletes in competition at Hangzhou. 

Athletes will compete across 61 sporting disciplines with 481 gold medals up for grabs.

The archery, artistic swimming, boxing, breakdancing, hockey, modern pentathlon, sailing, tennis and water polo events will serve as Olympic qualifiers for Paris 2024.

Esports and breakdancing promise to be standout features of the continental games, with the latter discipline set to make its debut at the Paris Olympics next year.


Champions League: Barcelona travels to Newcastle as round of 16 gets underway

Updated 10 March 2026
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Champions League: Barcelona travels to Newcastle as round of 16 gets underway

  • Spanish champions travel to St. James’ Park for the first leg, with coach Hansi Flick leaving his players in no doubt about what’s at stake

Barcelona faces Newcastle as the Champions League round of 16 gets underway on Tuesday.
The Spanish champions travel to St. James’ Park for the first leg, with coach Hansi Flick leaving his players in no doubt about what’s at stake.
“It’s one of the most important moments of the season and we are all ready for it,” he said.
Five-time European champion Barcelona hasn’t won the Champions League since 2015 and has had to watch on as its fiercest rival Real Madrid has dominated the competition.
Flick delivered the Spanish title last season, but his team was knocked out of the Champions League at the semifinals stage. He is aiming to improve on that this time around.
“What I can say is everything here in Barcelona is great,” he said. “I’m here 1 1-2 years and I’m enjoying every single day working with this fantastic team, with these fantastic players, with this staff around.
“Now we are building this club also for the future. This is what we want to do.”
Liverpool travels to Galatasaray on Tuesday and Bayern Munich is away to Atalanta.
Atletico Madrid hosts a Tottenham team that is fighting to avoid relegation from the Premier League.