ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will be hosting the much-delayed 14th South Asian Games from Jan. 23-31 next year in the cities of Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad, the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) said this week.
The quadrennial multi-sport event has been held among South Asian countries since 1984 under the SOAC. Participating nations include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, competing in various sports such as athletics, swimming and football among others.
India emerged as the top performer in the last games held in Nepal in 2019. The 14th edition, originally scheduled for 2021, was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The executive committee of the SAOC concluded a highly productive meeting today in Lahore, marking significant progress in preparations for the 14th South Asian Games which will be held from Jan. 26-31, 2026 in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad,” the SAOC said in a press release this week.
The meeting chaired by SAOC and National Olympic Committee President Arif Saeed called for collective efforts to promote sports in the region and enhance cooperation through sports.
Discussions also highlighted the achievements of Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who won an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games last year, as well as India’s Neeraj Chopra, and the rivalry and friendship between the two athletes, which had put a spotlight on “the power of sports in promoting peace, unity and shared aspirations across borders,” the press release added.
According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, swimming, archery, athletics, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, fencing, golf, judo, karate, shooting, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, basketball, cricket, football, handball, beach handball, hockey, mat kabaddi, rugby, volleyball, beach volleyball and rowing have been approved for the 2026 games.
