South Asian Games set for December in Kathmandu, Nepal

The 13th South Asian Games will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from December 1-10, 2019.

The decision was reached at the South Asian Olympic Council Executive Board meeting in Bangkok last Friday, prior to the 38th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia.

The South Asian Games was originally scheduled for this month, from March 9-18, but was postponed to September. Now it has been finalised for December. The delay has been due to preparations of the venues.

Eight countries will take part in the South Asian showpiece first staged in 1983, and also in Kathmandu. The countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

A total of 27 sports are on the medal programme, including traditional South Asian sports like kabaddi and kho-kho. Cricket will also be on the roster with all eight countries expected to participate.

The last South Asian Games took place in Guwahati and Shillong in India in 2016 where the host nation topped the medal standings winning 308 medals including 188 gold. India are expected to dominate once again.