2022 Asian Games delayed by about a year

In a move that could have major ramifications for Olympic qualification, the 2022 Asian Games have been delayed by a year. In May this year it was announced that the Games, to be held in Hangzhou, China, from 10-25 September were to be postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. China is pursuing a "Zero-COVID" policy even now and the Games were thought to be too big a risk.

This was a move that put a few sports' Olympic qualifiers into doubt. The Asian Games are the qualifying event for hockey in Asia and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) President Dato Tayyab Ikram said that if the Games could not be held before September 2023 then the AHF would have to put on a separate qualification event as a "plan B". But new dates for the Games have now been announced with the Games taking place from 23 September to 8 October 2023.

The Games consist of all Summer Olympic sports from 2020 and 2024 as well as Cricket, Dragon Boat, Kabbadi, Martial Arts (Ju-jitsu, Karate, and Kurash), "Mind Sports" (Bridge, Chess, Esports, Go, and Xiangqi), Roller skating, Sepak taraw, Squash, and Wushu. Archery and Tennis will also see qualification spots earned at the Games.

Patrick Green

Writer, Totallympics News