New Delhi: The 2018 Asian Games Torch Relay began on Sunday from New Delhi as Indonesia prepared to host the prestigious event next month. The flame, on its 18,000-km journey, will pass through 54 cities in 18 provinces across Indonesia before reaching the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Main Stadium in Jakarta for the Asian Games opening ceremony on August 18.

About 30 athletes, including Indian Olympic boxer Mary Kom and Indonesian badminton star Susi Susanti, the torch ambassador, participated in Sunday’s torch relay held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the birthplace of the Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) top sports event in 1951.