Dhaka warms up for sports fiesta

Leslie Fernando reporting form Dhaka, Bangladesh

It is going to be the mother of all sporting extravaganza that the city has witnessed so far, when the 11th edition of South Asian Federation Games starts today. Bangladesh and Dhaka- the host country and city would have truly made history. An event of such magnitude has not been held in this part of the country for a long period.

Biggest SA Games

This edition of the SAG is the biggest one in terms of number of events. This time there are 23 disciplines. When the first SAF Games was organised in 1984 at Kathmandu there were only five events.

The sad aspect of the SAG so far is that while it has grown in terms of size the competitive element has been by and large missing. The SAG saga was that of total Indian dominance. That unhindered Indian dominance was threatened only in Colombo and Islamabad editions. Even though Indians are expected to ride rough shod over their opponents this time too, the other teams mainly Pakistan and Sri Lanka are showing signs of emerging from the shadows.

Facilities

Whether the competition is going to be world class or not one can be rest assured that facilities and other sporting paraphernalia available to the players will be nothing short of international standard. The existing stadia and the newly built ones recently are verily resplendent feathers in the sporting cap of the country.

The 23 disciplines will be spread out and around various venues in and around the city. The Bangladesh government has left no stone unturned to get the meet going on time. While the Games are to be formally inaugurated (29th January) the proper events kick-off Saturday. The games will be on till 9th February.

The organising committee has planned an elaborate opening and closing ceremony.

Games torch

The Games torch after having been taken around the length and breadth of the country arrived int he city in the morning. The torch will be brought into the National Stadium tomorrow for the opening ceremony.

Most of the contingents of the participating nations have already arrived in the city. Our footballers left the country on January 27.

All football matches will be played in Chittagong 234 kilo metres away from the National Stadium in Dhaka.

Sri Lankan shuttlers, cricketers to play in the Twenty 20 tournament, cyclists, judokas, kabaddi players, shooters, basketballers, handball team, weightlifters, golfers, stickers and volleyballers together with the respective managers and officials have checked into the SAG village.

They will participate at the opening ceremony to be held tomorrow at Bangabandu National Stadium at Parlton.

Second batch of competitors archery, boxing, karate, squash, swimming, table tennis, wrestling, athleticts, wushu, taekwondo players from Sri Lanka will arrive in Dakha on February 4.

Indian contingent is the biggest one followed by Sri Lanka, host Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan.

Athletics most popular

Athletics as usual will be the cynosure of all events. The Indian team having had a pre-games trial meet at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is touted to win most of the laurels.

However Pakistani middle distance runners and field event athletes along with Sri Lanka men and women sprinters and field event athletes will give India a run for their money.

Among other events cricket, football and hockey are sure to draw spectator interest.

Sports buffs are eagerly awaiting the Indo-Pak clash in hockey. Sparks will also fly in boxing with the competition primarily coming from the Pakistanis.

The swimming events will see India and Sri Lanka coming into the limelight. Sri Lanka swimmers won most of the medals for Sri Lanka in the last two games. Bangladesh can fancy its chances in football but India will definitely offer stiff opposition.

Sri Lankan soccerites who had a very successful trip to Singapore for couple of matches are expected to show their might. Nepali shooters should they perform according to form may return with medals of intrinsic worth.

Bhutan and Maldives who are yet to strike a gold in any of he games should consider themselves lucky if they rewrite the script here.

All in all the 11th SA Games will certainly kindle the passions of the sports loving citizens of Bangladesh.

Gamini Jayasinghe- Sri Lanka team Chef de Mission said our competitors aim is to do better than that they did in the 2006 Colombo Games.

Now all the sportsmen and sportswomen, coaches and officials must work hard to bring victory to the country, Gamini Jayasinghe added that sports instils discipline in the participants.

It teaches all to accept victory and defeat. Everyone irrespective of his status has to perform in a team and sport can bring unity to our country.