Asian Para Games open in Hangzhou
The fourth Asian Para Games kicked off on Sunday evening in Hangzhou, with Hong Kong fielding a squad of about 100 athletes. As China hosts the Asian Para Games for the second time, following the 2010 event in Guangzhou, almost 3,100 athletes from 44 countries and regions will participate in 22 sports and compete in 564 events. With the theme of "hearts meet, dreams shine", Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang declared the games open at the city's lotus-shaped Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. During the opening ceremony, Hong Kong badminton player Chu Man-kai and table tennis player Wong Ting-ting jointly carried the SAR flag, leading other Hong Kong athletes dressed in white blazers into the venue. China, as the host country, marched in last, with wheelchair basketball player Huang Xiaolian and wheelchair fencer Sun Gang serving as China's flagbearers. The mainland has sent a total of 439 athletes to compete in the week-long games.