SAF Games postponed again

For the second time in three months, the 9th South Asian Federation Games, which were scheduled to be held at Islamabad in March, have been postponed due to the prevailing tensions with India.

The Games, which were scheduled to be held in October last year, had been postponed to March this year due to US military strikes in Afghanistan last year.

According to the revised schedule, the Games were to be held from March 30 to April 8. The present Indo-Pak tensions appeared to have forced another postponement with SAF Committee, headed by Maj. Gen. Syed Arif Hasan, deciding to put off the Games for a second time.

Pakistani news agency NNI said a formal announcement would be made shortly. The games may now be held in Islamabad next year.

National Olympic Associations of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and India had already sent lists of their participants to SAF Games Secretariat.

According to the Games Organising Committee, over 2000 sportspersons from the seven SAARC countries had confirmed participation in the Games. India had named a 380-strong contingent. Hosts Pakistan announced a similar squad.