Pakistan Takes Part in South Asian Games 2016

When it comes to sports; Pakistan lags behind no other country and participates in events all over the world. One such competition is the South Asian Games, whose 12th edition was held this year from 5th to 16th February in Gulwahathi and Shillong, India.

History of South Asian Games (SAG)

Previously known as South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, it is a multi sporting event in which athletes from the eight countries of South Asia take part that are

  1. Pakistan,
  2. India,
  3. Afghanistan,
  4. Bangladesh,
  5. Bhutan,
  6. Maldives,
  7. Nepal and
  8. Sri Lanka.

It is organized by the South Asian Sports Council (SASC) and was first held in 1984 in Nepal, and began with only 5 sports. Alternately it has been held in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Each year there has been an addition to the number of sports played; the highest ever has been 23.

Pakistan Takes Part in Previous South Asian Games

Pakistan has twice hosted South Asian Games i.e. in 1989 and 2004. The following table shows the medals tally of all earlier editions of SAG, and Pakistan ranks at number 2 with a total of 1028 medals.

Year

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Rank

1984

5

3

2

10

4

1985

21

26

12

59

2

1987

16

39

14

66

2

1989

45

33

42

120

2

1991

28

32

27

87

3

1993

23

22

20

65

2

1995

10

33

36

79

3

1999

10

36

30

76

4

2004

38

55

50

143

2

2006

46

71

67

184

2

2010

19

25

36

80

3

Pakistan’s Performance in South Asian Games 2016

337 Pakistani athletes took part in almost all of the sports played, which were

Pakistan won a total of 106 medals (12 Gold, 37 Silver & 57 Bronze), that got us 3rd position and ensured that we maintained our overall 2nd position.


south asian games, Pakistan, Pakistani sports, Pakistani athletes

Pakistan’s Golden Moments at South Asian Games

Here is a glimpse at some of the outstanding achievements by Pakistani athletes:

Judo

Shah Hussain Shah (son of Boxing Champion Syed Hussain Shah who had won 5 gold medals during 1984-89) made his debut at SAG and won Gold in 100kg while Fauzia Yasir won Gold in 78 kg.

Hockey

Pakistan beat India in the final, 1:0 to clinch the Gold medal, and thus achieved a hat-trick, as we beat India previously in 2006 and 2010 to win the first position as well.

Taekwondo

Asim Ijaz, won a gold medal in the 87kg and 16 year old Yasmin Maryam Khan in under 46kg.

Weightlifting

17 year old Muhammad Nooh Dastgir defeated his Indian rival in the super heavyweight event by lifting a total of 360kgs.

Squash

Compatriots Nasir Iqbal and Farhan Zaman played the final in which the former claimed victory.

Swimming

19 year old Lianna Swan made her debut at SAG and won gold in the 200m backstroke.

Wrestling

Moha­mmad Inam and Zaman Anwar won gold in 86 kg and 125kg category.

Wushu

Maaz Khan and Syed Maratib Ali Shah won gold in 70kg and 65kg category.

Boxing

A special mention must be made of Khush Zain, Rukhsana Parveen and Sofia Jawed, who are the first women ever to be on a Pakistani boxing team taking part in an international event. And to top it, Rukhsana and Sofia won Bronze in 60kg and 75 kg. Furthermore their male teammates Ahmed Ali (60kg), Mohibullah Khan (49kg), Syed Asif (52kg) and Tanveer Ahmed (75kg), won Silver.

One hopes that we will do even better at the 13th South Asian Games which are expected to be held in Nepal in 2019!