7000 athletes likely to participate in National Games

KARACHI: More than 7000 athletes are likely to participate in the 35th National Games in Karachi.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto will lead the torch relay at Mazar-e-Quaid, The News learnt on Wednesday.

An important meeting chaired by provincial sports minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar was held at a local hotel to review the preparation for National Games, scheduled to be held in January-February 2025.

Others in the meeting included Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president Abid Qadri Gillani, General Secretary Khalid Mehmood, and Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) president Ahmed Ali.

Sources said that it is expected that more than 7000 athletes and officials of various disciplines would participate in the National Games.

However, the funds have not been released so far for the Games, but it is expected that during September, Sindh government would release the funds.

It was decided that POA would establish a committee to visit the venues outside the National Coaching Center, where the competitions of various discipline have been proposed.

It has to be mentioned that this time a number of competitions of various disciplines including athletics would be organised outside the National Coaching Centre.

The participants of the meeting were informed that the government of Sindh has announced the establishment of the Pakistan National Games secretariat at the KMC Sports Complex at Kashmir Road, Karachi.

The games will be preceded by a torch relay ceremony from Karachi to Peshawar and Gilgit.

Sources further said that the games will feature around 35 sports disciplines, including archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, bodybuilding, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, hockey, kabaddi, karate, swimming, and shooting.