By Nick Butler

Wei Jizhong sees Indonesia as the clear favourite to step in and host the 2019 Asian Games ©Getty ImagesLeading Asian sports official Wei Jizhong claims Indonesia remain the front-runner to replace Hanoi as host of the 2019 Asian Games, despite India preparing to enter the race. 


Speaking duringh a five-day inspection visit to the country by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) officials during which Indonesian officials confirmed their intention to bid, Wei Jizhong, an honorary vice-president of the OCA, claimed Indonesia would be capable of stepping in.

"I don't think other competitors can offer better conditions than Indonesia for the time being," Jizhong, also President of the International Volleyball Federation from 2008 until 2012, told newsagency Agence France-Presse.

"I think they can do it within two years." 

He claimed Indonesia was well-equipped as it would be able to renovate existing facilities, rather than starting construction from scratch, in the short amount of time available.

This means that events will likely be held in Jakarta at venues, including the 80,000 capacity Gelora Bung Karno sports complex, rather than the city of Surabaya which launched the initial bid to host the Games in November 2012, beaten by Hanoi.

Home fans at an Asian Cup football qualifying match at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Jakarta where events could be held in 2019 ©Getty ImagesHome fans at an Asian Cup football qualifying match at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Jakarta where events could be held in 2019 ©Getty Images




Jizhong and the rest of the OCA inspection team are also visiting the Jakabaring sport complex on Sumatra island, one of the main venues of the 2011 Southeast Asian Games, and Bandung city in West Java, in order to assess their capability. 

Hanoi withdrew its hosting rights last month due to economic pressures and Indonesia, which has staged the Games only once before in Jakarta in 1962, emerged as the immediate front-runner to be named as replacement.

But despite an apparent lack of rival bids, the likes of Qatar, United Arab Emirates, China, Japan and a combined bid from Malaysia and Singapore have all been muted.

But there has been "strong desire" expressed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) subject to the approval of the new Indian Government following election results to be announced on May 16. 

"We want to host 2019 Asian Games after Vietnam's withdrawal," IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta told PTI.

"We will take a final decision in IOA General Body Meeting which will be held most likely next month.

"We are waiting for the new Government to be formed and hoping to get its approval."

"We have all the infrastructure in Delhi, I feel it's a matter of getting Government approval."

An Indian bid would use the facilities and experience garnered when Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 ©Getty ImagesAn Indian bid would use the facilities and experience garnered when Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 ©Getty Images



Mehta claimed that, if India is successful in its bid to host the Games, the IOA will not exercise financial powers and will only organise the multi-sporting event, a remark which appeared to stem from the experience of corruption scandals during the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

This comes after the 14-month suspension of the IOA from the International Olympic Committee following the election of officials linked to the scandal to top posts within the organisation.

The suspension was lifted during the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi earlier this year following successful elections in which Narayana Ramachandran, also head of the World Squash Federation, was appointed the new President.