Asian Games 2014 Highlights: India Finish 8th, China Break 150-Gold Barrier to Stay No.1; Korea No. 2, Japan 3rd
In the last edition of the Asian Games at Guangzhou in 2010, India finished at the sixth spot with 14 gold medals and a rich haul of 65 medals in all. Some might argue that India's performance in Incheon has been unsatisfactory but the athletes have done well to win medals in some new disciplines--such as compound archery, women's 20km walk and also sailing. Catch all the highlights from the last day of the 2014 Incheon Games and the closing ceremony here.
India finished in 8th position in the Asian Games 2014 standings. Catch all the sporting highlights and scenes from the closing ceremony here. (Medal Tally | Day 14 Highlights)
18:01 (IST): Hit song 'Fantastic Baby' brings the 2014 edition to a dancing close. Goodbye Incheon, Welcome Jakarta!
17:49 (IST): And now it's time for the celebratory performance to bring this event to a grand close! Some real jigs and singing going on at the stage now. The crowd couldn't ask for more.
17:31 (IST): Typical dances of Indonesia now fill the closing ceremony stadium as we get ready for the 2018 Games!
17:25 (IST): Korea formally hands over the Games to Indonesia as the Olympic Council of Asia flag and flame is passed over.
17:20 (IST): Time to lower the Olympic Council of Asia flag! Athletes turn around for the historic event.
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17:18 (IST): The 17th Asian Games have been formally brought to a close as we get ready for Jakarta 2018. Thank you Incheon!
17:07 (IST): The Most Valuable Player award goes to Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino. He won 4 gold medals from 200m and 400m individual medley.
17:04 (IST): Time to announce the Most Valuable Player for the 2014 Games! The crowd roars in anticipation.
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16:57 (IST): Amazing memories! A featured film remembering this year's Games is now being shown at Incheon. Some amazing singing performances are making this even more special!
16:51 (IST): Korea's famous K-pop stars CN Blue are now here to charm the crowd at Incheon.
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16.42 (IST): Various Athletes entered the stadium cheering and waving their national flags.
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16.35 (IST): The main theme of the closing ceremony is "Our Cherished Memories of Incheon," directed by Jang Jin, a South Korean filmmaker who also managed the opening ceremony two weeks ago. The grand fest began with fireworks woven with pop music and artistic performances, including a taekwondo demonstration by members of Kukkiwon, the global headquarters of the martial art.
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16.22 (IST): Traditional folk dance is on display at Incheon.
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16.15 (IST): Dancers from the National Gugak Centre Dance Troop perform during the closing ceremony of the Asian Games 2014.
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16.04 (IST): The North Korean delegates arrive at Incheon for the closing ceremony.
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15.45 (IST): The closing ceremony at the Incheon is now underway.
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15:18 (IST): Sarita Devi let off with a warning by the Olympic Council of Asia after issuing an unconditional apology for not accepting the medal on the podium. (Read)
14.40 (IST): China broke the 150-gold barrier and finished on top with a tally of 342 medals in all.
14.35 (IST): India signed off with 57 medals -- 11 gold, 10 silver and 36 bronze. The tally dipped considerably compared to the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, China. In 2010, the country had ended sixth with 65 medals -- 14 gold, 17 silver and 34 bronze.
14:20 (IST): The 20th edition of the Asian Games had 14 new world records and 28 Asian ones. Fifteen days of drama where more than 14,000 athletes and staff from 45 countries competed for 439 gold medals in 36 sports.
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14:19 (IST): Japanese swimming sensation Kosuke Hagino was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 17th Incheon Asian Games on Saturday. Among the shortlist of eight athletes, Hagino took the prize after having delivered four gold medals in the pool, in addition to one silver and two bronze.
13:50 (IST): Still a couple of hours to go for the closing ceremony to get underway.
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13.00 (IST): China are leading the medals tally with 151 gold medals, way ahead of South Korea (79 gold) and Japan (47 gold).
10.10 (IST): Karate - South Korea's Soyoung Jang beats Hong Kong's Ting Tsang in women's 84kg bronze medal match.
09.14 (IST): Table tennis - World No.1 Liu Shiwen of China beats compatriot and World No. 7 Zhu Yuling to win women's gold.
08.57 (IST): Lot of Karate action on the final day at Incheon.
In the -84kg men's semifinal, Kuwait's Alnweam Hamad beat Indonesia's Hendro Salim while Japan's Ryutaro Araga got the better of Vietnam's Phung Nguyen. The final between Ryutaro Araga and Anweam Hamad will be played later in the day.
In the men's +84kg category final, Japan's Hideyoshi Kagawa will take on Kuwait's Almutairi Rasheed.
Bronze medal contest: Turkmenistan's Aybik Yuldashev will tussle with Kazakhstan's Khalid Khalidov for the bronze medal.
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08.30 (IST): The Indian contingent will walk out in full unity as there will be no flag-bearer on the final day at the Incheon.
India have done well to end their 2014 campaign of the Incheon Asian Games with 11 gold, 10 silver and 36 bronze medals after a relatively poor start to the Games. Currently at 8th place, there is a good chance India finish this edition of the Games at the same position. Not only will no athlete from the country be in action on the last day, the fact that a few medal events are left to be decided in the Games will play in India's favour.
The biggest event in the Games for India, however, was the Sarita Devi controversy. The Indian boxer had broken down when the decision did not go in her favour in her semifinal match vs Jina Park of Korea and felt she had been cheated of a chance to compete for gold. She invited controversy by choosing not to wear the bronze medal at the ceremony but said it was not a pre-planned decision. Sarita later apologised after scorn from the world boxing body because she felt her country should not suffer as a result of her actions.
In the last edition of the Games at Guangzhou in 2010, India finished at the sixth spot with 14 gold medals and a rich haul of 65 medals in all. Some might argue that India's performance in Incheon has been unsatisfactory but the athletes have done well to win medals in some new disciplines--such as compound archery, women's 20km walk and also sailing.
Saturday will also officially mark the end of the 2014 Games with a grand closing ceremony planned at Incheon after the end of sporting events.
The closing ceremony will start with a welcoming performance with part one kicking off with a countdown, part two depicting a featured film remembering this year's Games and part three ending it all with a congratulatory performance. Overall, some spectacular programs can be expected from a grand closing ceremony at Incheon.
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While the opening ceremony was host to some great performances from JYJ, Psy and many other big entertainers, the closing ceremony will see Korea's famous K-pop stars CN Blue, Big Bang and Sistar charm the crowd.
The 2018 Games will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia and during another important occasion, extinguishing of the flame will be carried out at the end of the closing in Incheon.
The theme of the Asian Games has always been one celebrating the diversity of culture and sports within Asia and despite some initial setbacks, the 2014 Games editon in Incheon, South Korea has definitely been a successfully organised one.
Goodbye Incheon, Welcome Jakarta!