Torch of Asian Games arrives in Yogyakarta

Jakarta, MINA — The torch of the 18th Asian Games arrived at the Adi Sutjipto Air Force Base in Yogyakarta, Tuesday, at 8 a.m. local time from India aboard a Boeing 737-500 aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force, Antara News reported.

The aircraft was guarded by five T-501 jets before landing at the Air Force base.

Susy Susanti, a legendary badminton player, emerged from the aircraft with the torch in her hand and later handed it over to Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force Marshal Yuyu Sutisna.

Other VIP officials also present to welcome the arrival of the torch included Governor of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Chairman of the Indonesian Organizing Committee of the Asian Games 2018 (INASGOC) Erick Thohir, and INASGOC Secretary General Eris Herryanto.

The welcome ceremony was highlighted with a para-motor show featuring the Asian Games` rainbow flag by members of the All Indonesian Aerosport Federation, traditional dances, a parade of the Yogyakarta palace guards, and barongsai dance by the Indonesian Air Force`s officers.

The torch will be kept overnight at the Dirgantara Museum in Yogyakarta, and the next day, it will be fused with the eternal flame from Mrapen located in Grobogan, Central Java, to highlight the start of the national relay.

Students of the Indonesian Air Force`s military academy and the local residents of Yogyakarta stood along streets to greet the torch carried by Susanti and the Yogyakarta governor on its way to the Dirgantara Museum.

Meanwhile, the 2018 Asian Games torch relay began on July 15 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, host of the first Asian Games. The flame was generated from a parabolic mirror directed straight at the sun.

The relay in Indonesia will end on Aug 17, the country`s Independence Day, at the National Monument, Jakarta, before being carried into the opening ceremony at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on the following day.

In total, the torch will be taken across 18 provinces and 64 cities in Indonesia. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)