ISLAMABAD: As 53-member Pakistan contingent will participate in the third Asian Youth Games, scheduled to be held in Bahrain from Oct 22 to 31, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) said on Friday.

“The PSB has formally approved the participation of a 53-member national contingent. The approval was granted following clearances from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is subject to the final clearance from the Ministry of Interior,” said a press release issued by the PSB.

It added that the contingent will represent the country in eight disciplines including athletics, badminton, ju-jitsu, kabaddi, swimming, taekwondo, volleyball and wrestling. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Programme, will be the contingent’s chef de mission.

“In a significant move to uphold the integrity of national sports, the PSB has strictly enforced a merit-only policy for the selection of this contingent. This policy, adopted by PSB director general Yasir Pirzada, discourages self-sponsorship, a practice that had been misused in the past to allow privileged individuals to bypass the official selection criteria,” said a PSB spokesman in the press release.

“This contingent represents the pure sporting talent of our nation.

“Under the clear directives of PSB director general, we have ensured that every athlete selected has earned their place through proven skill and performance, not through privilege or personal wealth.

“The era of using sports as a gateway for foreign trips is over. Our focus is solely on those athletes who have the potential to bring glory to Pakistan,” added the release.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2025