POA team discusses National Games with Balochistan officials

KARACHI: The 33rd National Games would be held from October 7-14 at Quetta, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) announced on Friday after having a meeting with the provincial sports stakeholders.

The Games were earlier scheduled to be held last winter but had been postponed due to security issues.

A three-member delegation of the POA, comprising its chief Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hasan, vice-president Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob and secretary Khalid Mehmood, held a meeting with Fateh Muhammad Hassani, Minister for Sports Balochistan, Asmatullah Kakar, Secretary Sports Balochistan and Munawar Hussain, Director Sports Board Balochistan in Quetta to discuss the schedule and arrangements for the National Games.

“Provincial Sports Associations (Balochistan) of National Sports Federations recognised by International Federations (IF) concerned and POA will only be the legitimate representatives for the games,” the POA said in a press release.

The POA said that Director and Deputy Director Sports Balochistan would hold a meeting with Secretary General POA at its headquarters in the first week of May in Lahore to discuss the matters related to the Games.

“Meeting of Secretaries General of participating federations shall be held after the Islamic Games at Lahore to discuss the events, equipment, technical officials and other details relating to the Games. Minister Sports, Government of Balochistan and President POA will also address the participants of this meeting for successful conduct of the Games,” the POA added.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Yaqoob told ‘The News’ that the Balchistan government was determined to organise a very good spectacle.

He said that the organisers also promised to prepare fine venues of the competitions in which a huge number of athletes from around the country would be showcasing their talent.

Yaqoob said that the POA chief Arif Hasan had a meeting with the Corps Commander who assured him of support from the military.

Provisionally included disciplines:

Men: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Bodybuilding, Cycling (Subject to withdrawal of Court case filed against POA and compliance of POA Constitution before holding of the Games), Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo (Subject to withdrawal of Court case filed against POA and compliance of POA Constitution before holding of the Games), Ju-Jitsu, Kabaddi, Karate, Rowing, Rugby, Shooting, Sailing, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Tug of War, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Wushu.

Women: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Cycling (Subject to withdrawal of Court case filed against POA and compliance of POA Constitution before holding of the Games), Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo (Subject to withdrawal of Court case filed against POA and compliance of POA Constitution before holding of the Games), Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Rowing, Rugby, Shooting, Sailing, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wushu.