Feature: Pakistani athletes enthusiastic to compete in Asian Games, explore China

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- In the late afternoon at the Islamabad Sports Complex, Arooj Kiran, national champion in the women's 100m and 100m hurdles, was training for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou.

"We are doing very hard training, day and night we are doing training sessions. The training is going on with full energy," she told Xinhua.

According to Pakistan's sports board, over 250 Pakistani athletes will participate in the 19th Asian Games, which begins on September 23. This edition is set to be the largest ever, with around 12,500 athletes from 45 countries and regions competing in 40 sports, 61 disciplines, and 481 events.

Kiran is undergoing a special training regimen, with multiple sessions daily, as she aims to excel in the competition. Having never visited China, Kiran and other Pakistani athletes are eager to explore both the country and Hangzhou.

"We are very excited to go to China, especially because it's a friendly country and we are very close to each other," the athlete said.

"The way development is taking place every day in China, and as Hangzhou is known for its advancements in the technology sector and as an e-commerce hub, we will go there and see how they are progressing," she added.

Fatimatuz Zehra, along with seven other Taekwondo competitors, will participate in the Asian Games. She has been training for the past three months and found out about her selection a month ago.

She added that every athlete aims to win a medal, and that their primary goal should be to learn from the experience of the Asian Games.

"I did not get a gold internationally but I will go for the gold, and this Asian Games can be one of those opportunities for me," Zehra said.

Nasrullah Rana, director of Pakistan's Sports Board, mentioned that Pakistani athletes and officials have high expectations from China regarding the Asian Games' arrangements.

"We are waiting for that event because every time the Chinese give surprises to other nations and we love to see that moment. So, all those going, they are ready to see all such kinds of activities that they have never seen before," Rana added.