NAGOYA, Aug 22 — The Asian Games torch relay started in Nagoya on Saturday ahead of the start of competition next month, with around 1,000 people set to carry the ceremonial flame across Aichi Prefecture, the main host of the event, Kyodo News reported.
Three-time Olympic women’s wrestling gold medallist Saori Yoshida served as the first torchbearer, taking the flame from Nagoya Castle before passing it to local residents to take through the major central Japan city.
“I’ve always been on the competing side, but this time I’m on the cheering side. I ran with the hope of giving the athletes energy,” said Yoshida, who hails from neighbouring Mie Prefecture.
Prior to the relay, Japan’s 2011 Women’s World Cup-winning captain Homare Sawa and tennis great Kimiko Date brought two flames from Tokyo and Hiroshima, which hosted the continental multi-sport event in 1958 and 1994, respectively, to be combined with a flame lit in Aichi.
The torch is scheduled to travel across Aichi with stops in neighbouring prefectures before being used to light the cauldron during the opening ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium on Sept 19.
In the first Summer Asian Games to be held in Japan in 32 years, athletes will compete in more than 40 sports, including Asian-specific sports such as kabaddi and sepak takraw, through Oct 4.
The games will be held mainly in Nagoya and other cities in Aichi Prefecture.
Some events will also take place in Tokyo and Gifu, Shizuoka and Osaka prefectures.
The Asian Para Games will follow from Oct 18 to 24. — Bernama-Kyodo
