GUANGZHOU, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- After 16 days of competition, the second biggest sporting event in the world, the 16th Asian Games drew its curtains at Haixinsha Island, here Saturday night.
The ceremony started with a 47-minute cultural performance showcasing the local Lingnan culture and also Asia's diverse cultures from India, Lebanon, Japan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia while fireworks lighted up the Guangzhou skyline once again.
After the cultural performances, it was followed by the parade of flag bearers from participating countries and Malaysia was represented by Guangzhou Asian Games karate gold medallist, R. Puvaneswaran.
The Malaysian contingent, clad in the "Harimau Malaya" sports attire entered the venue, led by chief-de-mission Datuk Zolkples Embong.
The ceremony started with a 47-minute cultural performance showcasing the local Lingnan culture and also Asia's diverse cultures from India, Lebanon, Japan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia while fireworks lighted up the Guangzhou skyline once again.
After the cultural performances, it was followed by the parade of flag bearers from participating countries and Malaysia was represented by Guangzhou Asian Games karate gold medallist, R. Puvaneswaran.
The Malaysian contingent, clad in the "Harimau Malaya" sports attire entered the venue, led by chief-de-mission Datuk Zolkples Embong.
The Malaysian contingent improved its position in the medal standings among the 45 countries competing here when it settled in 10th place compared with 11th place in Doha, four years ago.
Malaysia bagged 9 gold, 18 silver and 14 bronze here as compared with 8 gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze in Doha.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Chairman Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah who hailed the Guangzhou Games "the best ever Asian Games" in history, during his speech, declared the games closed in front of nearly 30,000 spectators.
The OCA flag, and the Asian Games flag and torch were later handed over to Song Young-Gil, the mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, the next host city of the Asian Games in 2014.
This marked the start of a dazzling 10-minute spectacle by the South Korean cultural performers and martial art display to showcase their welcoming performance of the 17th Asian Games.
The highlight of the show was the appearance of Korean pop sensation, Rain, who rendered three songs tonight. A minute later, the city of Guangdong was once again lighted up a spectacular and colourful fireworks extravaganza and the cauldron that has been burning for the last 16-days, was extinguished.
As the meet ended today, it witnessed the host nation athletes comfortably perched at the top of the list with 199 gold medals, 119 silver and 98 bronze and their last gold medal came from their women's volleyball team.
South Korea finished second overall with 76 gold, 65 silver, 91 bronze and Japan finished third with a 48-74-94 tally.
More than 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions participated in 42 sports contested in the Games with 36 countries making it to the medal standings and 28 winning at least one gold medal.
In the two weeks of glory and agony, thrills and spills, three world records were shattered -- two in weightlifting and one in archery while 103 new Asian records were set.
-- BERNAMA
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