The 2018 Asian Games are underway, with the opening ceremony taking place in Jakarta over the weekend.
While the event may not garner the attention of sports fans in this part of the world, it is the second largest multi-sport event in the world after the Olympics.
While the importance of the games to footballer Son Heung-min has been discussed, some of the sports that will be present in Indonesia are unusual to say the least.
Here are some of the most notable.
Sepak Takraw
Originating in South-East Asia, Sepak Takraw is a sort of football/volleyball hybrid.
There are three members on either team, with each player allowed to use their feet, head, knees and chest to touch the ball. From here the rules and scoring system are similar to volleyball, with the first to win two 21-point games declared the winner.
With some absolutely unbelievable acrobatics on display it is an exciting spectator sport, and would surely make a great addition to the Olympics, although the sports confinement to Asia would make this unlikely.
Paragliding
Paragliding will debut at the Asian Games this year, with six gold medals to be won.
Competitive paragliding exists in various different forms, with cross-country flying the most common championship format.
The video below details the US National Paragliding Championships, and gives a good overview of the nature of the racing which are described as similar to sailboat races.
Jet Ski
Jet ski is another sport making its debut at the games this year, having been part of the Asian Beach Games since 2008.
A staple of beach holidays throughout the globe, competitive jet skiing come in a number of different forms, including closed course and endurance editions.
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a sport originating from the Indian Subcontinent, being described as a contact wrestling sport.
Two teams each have seven members on the court at each time, when a member of one team (known as the 'raider') will enter the opposition half and attempt to 'tag' the opposition. They must then attempt to return to their own half of the court without being tackled to the ground, and will receive one point for each member of the opposition team tagged should they do so.
One of the strange quirks of the game is that the raider must hold his breath and loudly chant the word 'kabaddi' while in the opposition half, and must return to his team's area when he can no longer continue to hold his breath.
The sport has achieved some mainstream traction in recent times, even occasionally being broadcast on Sky Sports.
Look at it in all its glory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZKHlLxfW_0
eSports
Whether you consider the to be actual 'sports' or not, eSports are one of the fastest growing parts of the sporting sphere.
Some big money is starting to become involved in the industry, and eSports are becoming a spectator sports of their own.
The NBA this year launched an official NBA 2K league, with actual NBA teams drafting and fielding players who would compete in an officially endorsed virtual counterpart league during the off-season.
The Asian Games are getting in on this trend, with games such as Pro Evolution and League of Legends set to be on display. While eSports will only be a demonstration sport at this year's event, they are expected to become a medalled event for the next games in 2022.
