South Asian Game 2016

EP desk

The South Asian Games formerly known as South Asian Federation Games, a multi-sport event, is the regional games of the Olympic Council of Asia. Since it was first hosted by Kathmandu, Nepal in the year 1984, except for few occasions the event is taking place every alternate year. This mega multi-national sports event is held among the athletes of the South Asian countries in various locations across the region. The event is presently participated by the eight South Asian countries namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The event is unique in itself as it boosts up an amiable relationship between the South Asian countries. There will be 23 sport disciplines for the 12th South Asian Games of which 16 will be held in Guwahati (Assam) and 7 in Shillong (Meghalaya). The 12th South Asian Games will be conducted in 26 venues across the cities of Guwahati and Shillong. 17 venues in Guwahati and 9 venues in Shillong are developed to carry out the various sporting events.

To mark the commencement of the event the torch relay of the 12th South Asian Games (SAG) kicked off at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium New Delhi. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N. Ramachandran handed over the torch to Union Sports Minister and Organising Committee of the Games chairman Sarbananda Sonowal. After lighting the torch, Sonowal passed it on to Olympic hockey gold medallist Zafar Iqbal and Commonwealth Games champion weightlifter N. Kunjarani Devi to begin the relay. The torch was received by IOA secretary-general Rajiv Mehta at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Nearly 2,000 volunteers and school children participated in the event.

South Asian Game 2016

EP desk

The South Asian Games formerly known as South Asian Federation Games, a multi-sport event, is the regional games of the Olympic Council of Asia. Since it was first hosted by Kathmandu, Nepal in the year 1984, except for few occasions the event is taking place every alternate year. This mega multi-national sports event is held among the athletes of the South Asian countries in various locations across the region. The event is presently participated by the eight South Asian countries namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The event is unique in itself as it boosts up an amiable relationship between the South Asian countries. There will be 23 sport disciplines for the 12th South Asian Games of which 16 will be held in Guwahati (Assam) and 7 in Shillong (Meghalaya). The 12th South Asian Games will be conducted in 26 venues across the cities of Guwahati and Shillong. 17 venues in Guwahati and 9 venues in Shillong are developed to carry out the various sporting events.

To mark the commencement of the event the torch relay of the 12th South Asian Games (SAG) kicked off at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium New Delhi. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N. Ramachandran handed over the torch to Union Sports Minister and Organising Committee of the Games chairman Sarbananda Sonowal. After lighting the torch, Sonowal passed it on to Olympic hockey gold medallist Zafar Iqbal and Commonwealth Games champion weightlifter N. Kunjarani Devi to begin the relay. The torch was received by IOA secretary-general Rajiv Mehta at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Nearly 2,000 volunteers and school children participated in the event.

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As a prelude to 12th South Asian Games a ‘Run for North East’ event was held in the two state capitals on January 21 and 22. The 5km run, which aims to create awareness about the February 5-16 regional multi-sporting event as well as the contribution of North East in Indian sports, was held under the aegis of the SAG Organising Committee and state governments of Assam and Meghalaya.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma flagged off the run in Shillong which also coincided with the 44th Statehood Day of Meghalaya, while Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal did the honours in Guwahati. The opening ceremony of the Run organised in Shillong was attended by ace Indian boxers MC Mary Kom and Sarita Devi, Bollywood star Milind Soman, Athletics Federation of India President A Sumariwalla, CEO South Asian Games (Shillong), RK Sharma, Joint CEO South Asian Games (Shillong) and Commissioner and Secretary, Youth Affairs and Sports, F R Kharkongor, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, F M Dopth, Sports Minister Zenith Sangma, Health Minister, A L Hek, Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh and President of Meghalaya State Olympic Association, John Kharshiing among others.

Later the mascot of the 12th SAG, Tikhor handed over the relay torch to CEO SAG (Shillong) R K Sharma who passed it to Sports Minister Zenith Sangma and subsequently to the Chief Guest, Mukul Sangma. The Chief Minister handed over the torch to Mary Kom who kick started the mini marathon. The ace boxer handed over the torch to Milind Suman at the Fire Brigade junction and the torch changed hands again at St Edmund’s gate when Sarita Devi took over. The crowd of participants, meanwhile, joined the celebrities in the run. Interestingly, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma followed the torch on foot all the way to Polo where a closing ceremony of the Run for North East was held.

More than 3,500 athletes and officials from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India are expected to take part in the regional sporting extravaganza