Breakdancing made its Asian Games debut in Hangzhou on Friday ahead of an even bigger landmark appearance at the Olympics in Paris.

ESports made a smash-hit debut as a medal event earlier in the Games, in what was seen as a major step towards being included one day in the Olympics.

Breakdancing, or “breaking”, has already twisted and twirled into the Olympics programme for the Games in less than 10 months as IOC chiefs attempt to appeal to a younger audience.

Making its Asiad debut on Friday even more significant, qualification for Paris is up for grabs along with medals in Hangzhou.

Events are divided into men’s and women’s categories, with preliminary rounds on Friday and medals on Saturday, the penultimate day of the Games.

As the Games finishing line swings into view, golds were going begging on Friday in sports including archery, bridge, dragon-boat racing, weightlifting and wrestling.

Among the highlights will be the final of the men’s basketball, when Jordan clash with the Philippines for gold.

Basketball is the number one sport in the Philippines but the country have not clinched men’s Asian Games gold since 1962. Jordan have never won it.

Women’s football glory is also at stake when reigning champions Japan face North Korea. Japan are similarly looking to retain their crown when they meet India in the men’s hockey decider.

In some of the early action, India crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets to power into the gold medal match of the men’s cricket, as they bid to win the Asian Games title on their first attempt.

Awaiting their young, but still formidable, side in Saturday’s title-decider will be Pakistan or Afghanistan, who meet later.

Twenty20 cricket has been played at the Asian Games twice before, at Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014, with Bangladesh and then Sri Lanka crowned champions.

India did not take part and are at an Asiad for the first time in the sport.