KARACHI, Dec 2: South Asian sailors representing India, Sri Lanka and the hosts Pakistan, will vie for honours when the postponed South Asian Yachting Regatta (SAYR) gets under way at the shores of Marina Club from Sunday.

A 14-member Sri Lankan squad including four officials, is due to arrive late Friday night while 13-member Indian squad which included three officials, are due to reach here on Saturday.

Defending champion, Pakistan, is fielding a strong 18-member team for Enterprise and Optimist competitions.

The details of the regatta were unfolded at a press conference addressed by the president of Pakistan Sailing Federation (PSAF) Vice Admiral Asad Qureshi at the National Sailing Centre on Friday. Secretary, PSAF, Capt (retd) S. V. Hasan was also present.

In addition to the Enterprise team racing, the regatta would be sailed in Enterprise (individual), Optimist team racing and individual.

The Optimist individual will be held in under-12 and 15 categories.

The PSAF officials were optimistic about Pakistan’s chances of winning the title.

PSAF president disclosed that much awaited preparations for the next year’s Qatar Asian Games would get into full swing early next year when Pakistan featured in the Asian regatta being held at Qatar, venue for the Games.

“PSAF has finally got the nod from those who matter in Islamabad and would get Rs13 million for preparation and purchase of boats and other equipment,” he remarked.

He went on to say that the PSB had also enhanced the PSAF’s annual grant to Rs10 million. In addition, he said, the PSB had assured to provide Rs0.7 million for the Asian Regatta.

Saturday would be the practice day and the competition begins on Sunday.

Pakistan team: (Enterprise) Mamoon Sadiq, Zahid Rauf, Rana Waqas, Abdul Hameed, Shehryar Arshad, Riaz Khan, Xerxes Avari, Mehboob Khan; (Optimist) Hussain Patel, Waleed Tobeh, Sabahat, Ujala Mir Masood, Ghazal Mir Masood, Shazli Tahir, M Mustafa Ahmed, Taha Nadeem, Haider Ali, Adil Jalil Zuberi; (officials) Capt Mehtab (manager), Cdr Javed Rasool (coach).