Hyderabad: After some initial hiccups, the much-postponed Afro-Asian Games would officially kick off in Hyderabad on October 24, setting the stage for India to test their sporting might against Asian and African rivals in eight disciplines.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani will declare open the Games at a colourful ceremony, which will also be attended by Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi besides many other distinguished guests.

The eight-day sporting extravaganza with the theme "Two Continents One Spirit" is catching up with the locals in Hyderabad finally and a full house is expected for the gala opening ceremony at the GMC Balayogi Stadium.

Though the Games has lost some its sheen because of some of the top athletes and teams keeping away from it, disciplines like hockey and football are expected to draw good crowd.

Many nations, whose athletes took pride in winning the medals in the just concluded African Games in Abuja, kept the best talent away from the inaugural edition due to some reason or the other.

PTI