A spectacular fireworks display lit up the Jakarta sky as Indonesia welcomed more than 11,400 of the region’s best athletes to the country after 56 years in a grand official opening ceremony of the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Saturday.

The Malaysian contingent, led by flag bearer Shakila Salni Jefry Krishnan and comprising 115 athletes and officials, marched proudly into the arena after Macau and was greeted with a thunderous applause from the packed 72,000-capacity stadium.

Highlights from the opening ceremony included renowned Indonesian singer Via Vallen singing the official Games theme song, "Meraih Bintang ( Reach for the Stars)", a flag raising team forming a special formation of 17-8-45 to represent the date of the proclamation of Indonesia's independence, and a showcase of Indonesia’s cultural diversity that came in four segments – Water, Air, Fire and Earth.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo then declared the Games open before the climax of the ceremony, which saw former Indonesian Olympic champion Susi Susanti light the cauldron with a torch in a spectacularly executed move that enthralled spectators.

45 Asian countries are taking part at this year's Asian Games, which runs from August 19 to September 2.

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