South Asian Games postponed to early February next year

The 14th edition of the South Asian Games set to be hosted in Pakistan has been rescheduled for early February next year.

Pakistan media reports that the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) held yesterday conceded permission to postpone the games to February.

Most activities of the SA Games will be hosted in the country's largest two cities, Islamabad and Lahore with 18 events allocated for Lahore and nine for Islamabad, says The News International, a Pakistani media outlet. They further revealed that the games are expected to begin on the first or second of February and are arranged to continue until February 12. The official date of the SA games, however, will be announced following deliberations between the government of Pakistan and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), said the media.

While Maldives is expected to partake in 12 events of the SA Games, 27 events are arranged for the year, including football, cricket, basketball, badminton, swimming, taekwondo and shooting, which are set to take place in Lahore. Meanwhile, Islamabad is arranged to host table tennis, volleyball, athletics and tennis billiard events.

The Pakistani government had reached a decision to allocate a budget of USD 350,000 on the SA Games which was initially allotted for 2021 and rescheduled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Attempts were made to begin the games on March this year.

The POA remains under considerable pressure from member countries due to the consecutive delays, reports The News International, with the countries urging to host the games at the possible earliest. The POA also remains warned that further delays will warrant surrender of the hosting rights to Sri Lanka, the country set to host the next edition.

The most popular category of sports in Pakistan is cricket. Pakistan is also arranged to host the ICC Champions Trophy in February next year, with this tournament set to commence shortly after the SA Games in Lahore and Rawalpindi.