Players will vie for 162 golds in Ninth SAF Games

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, August 21:The players for the 9th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games to be held in Pakistan's capital Islamabad from October 6 this year will vie for 162 gold, 162 silver and 211 bronze medals.

Jinnah Stadium will hold both the inaugural and conclusion ceremonies of the 9th edition of the Games. On October 6, there will be only inauguration function and conclusion ceremony will be held on October 15. This time around, there will be 15 games to be participated in by about 2000 athletes from seven countries of the SAARC region.

According to the Games' organising Committee, the different events of athletics will be held from October 10 to 14 while badminton will take place October 7-13. Likewise, different bouts of boxing will be held from October 11-14 and football from October 7-13.

Kabbaddi's all events will be over by October 12 at the Rawalpindi's Army Stadium while Karate will start from October 7 and will be over by October 9 at the Islamabad's Naval Stadium.

Shooting and Squash will take place from October 7-14 at the Islamabad's Sports Complex and the Sports Complex pool will witness the swimming competition for male from October7-11. Interestingly, No male spectators will be allowed to enter the swimming pool complex when there will be competitions for women which will get underway from October 12 to 14.

Similarly, the events of table tennis will be organised October 8-13 at the Hamidi Hall and the Army Gymnasium at Rawalpindi will hold all the events of tae-kwan-do from October 7 to 10. Liaquat Ali Gymnasium will hold volleyball from October 7-11 while weightlifting will be held at Community Centre in Islamabad from October 9 to 12. At the Army's Hockey Stadium, wrestling will be held from October 8 to 10. Rowing will take place in Rawal Lake at Islamabad October 8-9.

Nepal is sending about a squad of 230 persons that include players, referees, judges and officials to participate in 14 games in the South Asia's biennial sports show. However, Nepal will not be participating in rowing.