Pakistan to host South Asian Cross Country Athletics

KARACHI: Pakistan will host the South Asian Cross Country Athletics Championship for the first time on Nov. 24 in Islamabad, officials confirmed Thursday.

The championship will feature athletes from seven South Asian nations: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The Athletics Federation of Pakistan said the government has granted clearance for all participating teams, including India.

“This is a significant event for Pakistan’s sporting landscape,” an AFP official said, adding that the Pakistan Sports Board has issued the necessary No Objection Certificate. Cross country running is a long-distance sport in which individuals and teams race over natural terrain. Courses typically range from 3 to 12 kilometers and include varied surfaces such as grass, dirt, and gravel, with natural obstacles like hills and woodlands. Athletes are judged on individual times, while team scores are determined using a points system.