Tensions cast shadow over India's participation in South Asian Games to be hosted by Pakistan

The recent conflict between Pakistan and India has cast a shadow over India's participation in the 14th South Asian Games, scheduled to take place in different cities of Punjab and Islamabad from January 23 to 31, 2026.

India has consistently been hesitant to participate in events held in Pakistan, and the recent conflict has only exacerbated the situation.

Kuwait is going to host the 45th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The two-day event would conclude today.

In order to discuss the South Asian Games, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) had planned to hold a formal meeting of the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) on Sunday but it could not be held as POA officials reached Kuwait today due to flight issues.

However, a highly credible source told Nukta that on the final day of the OCA General Assembly on Monday (today) the SAOC member nations would put their heads together to discuss the biennial spectacle which Pakistan will be hosting for the third time.

“Yes, definitely it will be discussed today as you know the situation is not normal,” the source said.

SAG minus India?

There is no doubt about it that India is the biggest sporting nation of this region and its absence will inflict a body blow on the South Asian Games. But there are chances that Pakistan will go for holding the event even if India refuses to feature in it.

If the situation improves then the event can be held involving India. But it looks a distant dream now the way things have unfolded in recent days which may keep the situation quite tense for months to come.

It will be interesting to see how SAOC goes for tackling this pressing matter.

Nukta understands that the rest of the nations may agree to go for the South Asian Games without India for which this regional event has no such value keeping in view its massive progression in the world of sports.

In February this year the SAOC delegation had visited Pakistan to finalize the dates for the region’s mega event.

A representative of the India Olympic Association (IOA) had also attended that meeting via video link from India.

The delegation included representatives of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Initially Pakistan was supposed to host the 14th South Asian Games in 2021 but it was postponed for a few times due to covid, economic and political situation of Pakistan.

However, this time the state is committed to go for this spectacle in January.

The country is also set to conduct National Games in early December which means that it would help the federations and athletes to prepare for the South Asian Games.

However, if India does not come then off-course it would be a huge blow to the event.

Even before the recent tension between Pakistan and India, India refused to allow its blind cricket team, kabaddi team and athletics teams to travel to Pakistan for the respective Blind Cricket World Cup, bilateral kabaddi series and South Asian Cross-country Athletics Championship which was hosted by Pakistan for the first time ever in last February.

And Pakistan also had to hold the ICC Champions Trophy on hybrid model because of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan.

India always ruled supreme in the South Asian Games and in recent years it fields its second and third string sides and athletes in this type of competition as it has now produced world’s leading athletes in a few major disciplines.