Pakistan to host South Asian Games in January next year

After multiple delays it has finally been decided that the 14th South Asian Games will be held from January 23-31, 2026, at three different centers of Pakistan.

The major decision was taken at the South Asian Olympic Council’s (SAOC) Executive Committee meeting held at Lahore on Tuesday.

Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) chief Arif Saeed chaired the meeting.

The meeting was attended by the representative of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Maldives Ahmed Munthaqim, members of NOC Bangladesh Ashiqur Rahman Miku and Siraj Uddin Mohammad Alamgir, member NOC Bhutan Nim Dorji, president NOC Nepal Jeevan Ram Shresth and members NOC Sri Lanka Edirimuni Niluka Rushan Perera Karunaratne and Ilanga Pathiratnalage Wijeratne.

A representative of NOC India attended the meeting via video link.

“The Executive Committee of the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) concluded a highly productive meeting today at Lahore, marking significant progress in preparations for the 14th South Asian Games, which will be held from 23rd to 31st January 2026 in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad,” POA said in its press release.

“Chaired by Arif Saeed, President SAOC and National Olympic Committee (NOC) Pakistan, the meeting reinforced the collective commitment of South Asian NOCs to fostering regional sports development and strengthening cooperation through sports.”

“The discussions highlighted how the region’s athletes, Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra, brought South Asia into the global spotlight at Paris 2024 by winning medals in javelin throw — an achievement that not only inspired the youth of the subcontinent but also underscored the power of sports in promoting peace, unity, and shared aspirations across borders.”

Zahoor Ahmed Chaudhry, Federal Secretary Sports Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination Division also attended the meeting.

“As many as 27 sports disciplines were already agreed upon by the South Asian NOCs as per the rules of South Asia Olympic Council by circulation. It was also decided events for each sport will also be decided before 31st March 2025 and the Technical Handbooks will be prepared and released subject to approval of the Asian Federations concerned.” The release said.

The POA said that a committee has been established to review and update the SAOC Constitution, aligning it with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Constitution.

“It was also agreed that to benefit from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), SAOC Secretariat will invite an OCA representative to all future SAOC meetings.”

Approved sports disciplines:

Swimming (Men & Women), Archery (Men & Women), Athletics (Men & Women), Badminton (Men & Women), Billiards & Snooker (Men), Boxing (Men & Women), Fencing (Men & Women), Golf (Men & Women), Judo (Men & Women), Karate (Men & Women), Shooting (Men & Women), Squash (Men & Women), Table Tennis (Men & Women), Taekwondo (Men & Women), Tennis (Men & Women), Triathlon (Men & Women), Weightlifting (Men & Women), Wrestling (Men & Women), Wushu (Men & Women), Basketball 3x3 and 5x5 (Men & Women), Cricket (Men & Women), Football (Men & Women), Handball (Men & Women) and Beach Handball (Men), Hockey (Men), Mat Kabaddi (Men & Women), Rugby (Men), Volleyball (Men & Women) & Beach Volleyball (Men), and Rowing. Rowing, proposed as second optional sport by the host NOC, will be included once it receives endorsement from at least four NOCs as an additional sport to already approved program.