ISLAMABAD: The second meeting of the steering committee for the 2023 South Asian Games was held here on Friday, in which Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza vowed that the government would hold the regional event in a befitting manner.

The committee head Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar because of some pressing engagements could not turn up and the meeting was chaired by IPC minister. Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president retired Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan also did not attend the meeting, as he is currently out of the country.

The main item on the agenda of the meeting included recommending a running budget to provide boarding and lodging to over 5,000 athletes and officials who are expected to participate in the seven-nation South Asian Games expected to be staged during March next year.

The committee after discussing the budget estimate for establishing the secretariat for the said games in Islam­abad, opening and closing ceremonies, security-related expenditure, decided to hold another meeting next week.

The meeting was told that the main secretariat of the games would be set up in Islamabad while a sub-secretariat would be established in Lahore. The meeting was attended also by Punjab Sports Minister Taimur Bhatti and Pakistan Sports Board director general retired Col Asif Zaman.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF) sounded optimistic about winning gold medal at next year’s South Asian Games, if the team was allowed to compete in the regional event as an optional game.

Speaking to Dawn, PNF president Mudassar Arain said with consistent performance at national and international levels, both national men and women teams had the potential to the title at the South Asian Games.

Being the host, Pakistan can add two optional disciplines for the 14th edition of the regional games.

“We are one of the best [netball] teams in Asia. At the 2018 Asian Games, Pakistan men’s team lost to India 51-52 in the final. While, in the same event, we defeated India in the group match,” Mudassar said while insisting that netball deserved to be added as an optional sport at the 2023 South Asian Games.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2022