Pakistan's National Games set to be delayed

The 35th National Games, which were expected to be held before February 10, 2025, in Karachi, are likely to be delayed until September-October.

The holding of the Games was deeply discussed by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) sports commission during a lengthy meeting at the Olympic House in Lahore on Tuesday with Shoukat Javed in the chair.

The representatives of the main stakeholders Army, WAPDA and Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) were also present at the occasion.

Sources told Nukta that the matter was deeply debated on and the sports commission reached to a conclusion that it would be better if the Games are taken to the end of next year so that it could be organized in the best possible way.

Sources said that SOA will need at least three to four months so that all arrangements could be made properly.

The Games could not be held in the middle of February as it could then clash with the ICC Champions Trophy and in March there will be Ramadan.

Sources said that it has been agreed in the sports commission meeting that if these Games are taken to September-October 2025 then it would be more appropriate. Additionally, if Pakistan goes for holding the 14th South Asian Games in November-December 2025, which are also likely, then National Games would help Pakistani athletes to prepare adequately for the South Asian Games.

However, this decision is subject to approval from the POA president Syed Mohammad Abid Qadri Gillani.

Nukta has learnt that Sindh government is yet to issue even the first installment of the budget which has been approved for the purpose.

Sources said that if SOA even receives some portion of the budget in the next two weeks still it will have not enough time to make the required preparations.

Sindh government and SOA want to hold the Games in the most befitting way, sources added.

Karachi has ample infrastructure but some renovation will be required at some places besides managing the required equipment but it all cannot be done overnight and for this minimum three months will be required.

Nukta has learnt that September-October will also offer a serene environment for conduction of sailing and rowing events. These two disciplines need a still sea and the organizers will also think twice before announcing the actual dates of the National Games which Sindh is going to host after long 17 years.

Last time Sindh had hosted this event in 2007 when Qamar Mansoor was the Sindh Sports Minister.

Quetta had hosted the 34th National Games last year. Meanwhile, the 33rd National Games had been conducted by Peshawar just before the 2019 South Asian Games which were held in Nepal.