KARACHI: A huge contingent of approximately 450 to 500 athletes, including women and officials, will compete at the 12th South Asian Games being held in the Indian cities of Guwahati and Shillong from Feb 6 to 16.

This was stated by POA President Lt Gen (retd) Syed Arif Hasan during a press conference held at Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Tuesday. “The modalities of the games, including disciplines, have been finalised during two meetings that took place in the recent past across the border and also attended by delegates from the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA),”

Elaborating on the matter, he said after a lot of deliberations 23 disciplines, to be contested by men and women athletes, have been finalised for the regional spectacle. Participation of four of the seven member countries was taken into consideration while finalising the disciplines.

The disciplines are: athletics, archery, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho kho, rifle-shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, trithlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.

He added that the host country can include a game or two of their choice but again participation of four nations in each is mandatory. “We’ve raised objections for the inclusion of kho kho and triathlon but Indian counterparts offered to provide coaches and expertise of the two sports to train players,” he added.

Referring to security of athletes during the games, the POA chief said a three-member POA team may visit India on the eve of sporting gala to inspect the arrangements. “The security of our athletes is important and things will be planned after consultations with Islamabad and our Indian counterparts,” he opined.

He sounded optimistic about hosting of the games smoothly after prime minister of the two countries met in Paris the other day.

Asked about preparations for the games, he said most of the camps will be held at Islamabad. He said the games have been postponed a couple of times before and now the host nation wanted to organise them before state elections in Assam.

Arif termed the POA’s relationship with the PSB as ‘good’ and added that he has made a presentation on sports development in Islamabad which was appreciated by them.

Asked whether the PSB is still sending its officials with the Pakistan teams abroad as observer he replied, “They have done away with the practice.

He went on to say that the first-ever Beach Games that were allotted to the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) has been postponed due to local government elections. They are now slated to take place in March next year.

He informed that the Sindh government has also approved budget and assured to lend full support for the event.

Asked about the National Games, he said they have been allotted to Balochistan and the dates will be finalised after a POA delegation inspects the facilities and the security conditions.

To another question whether any Pakistani athlete has been given wild card for the Rio Olympics, he replied: “Wild cards are normally given on completion of qualifiers in all disciplines and the player’s performance is also taken into consideration”

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2015