21 venues proposed for National Games in Karachi

KARACHI: A total of 21 venues have been proposed for the 35th National Games, scheduled to be held in Karachi from May 1-9. The Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) three-member Venue Inspection Committee visited various sports venues in Karachi along with Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) officials. The POA approved the venues in its recent meeting in Lahore.

According to the details, the athletics events will be held at the newly laid tartan track at PNS Karsaz. The National Sports Training and Coaching Center’s (NSTCC) track was deemed unfit due to its poor condition, while NED’s tartan track lacks spectator seating and has other technical issues. PNS Karsaz was chosen as the ideal venue due to its central location. Rifle shooting will also take place at PNS Karsaz.

Karate and Baseball events will be held at NED University, while Archery and Jujitsu will take place at Dow University in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Badminton matches are scheduled at Sindh Sports Board in Nazimabad, and Basketball games will be played at Habib Public School. Bahria Auditorium in Karsaz will host Bodybuilding, whereas Boxing will take place at People’s Sports Complex in Lyari. Football and Volleyball competitions are set for KPT Sports Complex, while Gymnastics will be held at the College of Physical Education on University Road.

Hockey matches will be played at KHA Hockey Ground in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and Judo events will take place at Sindh Youth Club in Gulistan-e-Johar. Tennis and Kabaddi will be hosted at Naya Nazimabad Gymkhana, and Swimming competitions will be held at KMC Sports Complex.

Table Tennis matches will take place at Islamia Club, and Taekwondo will be contested at Scout Center in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Weightlifting events are scheduled at Scouts Auditorium, YMCA, while Wrestling will be held at Kakri Sports Complex.

Tug of War, Squash, Rugby, and Netball will be organised at the National Sports Training and Coaching Center. Rowing competitions will be held at Boat Club, and Sailing events will take place at PNS Dockyard.

Sindh Sports Minister Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh recently announced in a press conference that the opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium. He also revealed that around 10,000 male and female athletes and officials will participate. Teams from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan will compete, along with teams from Army, Air Force, Navy, WAPDA, Railways, Police, and Higher Education Commission. The event will feature 2,760 players from provinces, 5,600 departmental players, 1,200 technical officials, and 132 traditional sports players.