The much-awaited 12th South Asian Games Has been launched with pomp and grandeur at the Indira Gandhi stadium, Sarurasajai, Today evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared South Asian Games open today at the Indira Gandhi stadium. The event is being hosted for the first time in the North East of the country, the curtains to which will be brought down on February 16.
The 2016 South Asian Games, officially the XII South Asian Games, will be a major multi-sport event that will take place from 5 February to 16 February 2016 in Guwahati and Shillong, India.A total of 2,672 athletes are scheduled to compete in 228 events over 23 sports.
A total of 764 medals (228 gold, 228 silver and 308 bronze medals) are on offer in 2016 South Asian Games.
The list of the 23 SPORT EVENTS to be conducted :
Archery
Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Boxing
Cycling
Field hockey
Football (2)
Handball
Judo
Kabaddi
Kho-Kho
Shooting
Squash
Swimming
Table tennis
Taekwondo
Tennis
Triathlon
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Wrestling
Wushu
Mr. Modi welcomed SAARC countries and its players and said, “I welcome our friends from SAARC countries, let the spirit of Gurukul prevail for two weeks in Guwahati. Let SAG be an opportunity for SAARC to realise its potential.”
“My vision for South Asia is the same as my vision for India,” he said, adding, “Let us play with enthusiasm so that we would remember this even after it is over.”
He said that the event signifies three Ts: Teamwork, Togetherness and Talent.
8 countries will be competing this year at the south Asian games
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
so this is the third time India will host the Games, after Kolkata in 1987 and Chennai in 1995, and it will have hopes of continuing with its overall dominance across venues for a twelfth straight time.
Through the last 11 south asian games , India has a record of of racking up 1,728 medals — 900 gold, 542 silver and 286 bronze.
standing in second-place is Pakistan (1,022, 311-375-336) and third place is Sri Lanka (928, 185-245-455)
