LAHORE: The 14th edition of the South Asian Games will be held in Pakistan from March 23 to 31 next year, it was decided at a meeting of the South Asian Federations held in Tashkent the other day.

“Following detailed deliberations, the meeting unanimously decided that the South Asian Games shall be scheduled from March 23 to 31, 2027. The meeting further authorised the Pakistan Olympic Association / NOC Pakistan to make adjustments to the schedule within the same time window, with a flexibility of up to one week, as may be required for operational or logistical reasons,” read a press release issued by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on Tuesday.

The meeting in Uzbekistan capital was held on the sidelines of the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

“At the outset of the meeting, the South Asian Olympic family extended its warm congratulations to Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on his successful and unanimous election as President of the OCA,” added the press release.

“The meeting was chaired by HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, OCA Vice-President for South Asia, and was attended by the Presidents and/or Secretaries General of the National Olympic Committees of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.”

India’s participation in the South Asian Games will depend on the stance of its government, which has avoided sending sporting teams to Pakistan over the past several years due to political tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

“Arif Saeed, President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC), participated in the meeting along with Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Government of Pakistan,” the press release further stated.

It was also agreed by all countries that the disciplines and events will remain the same as had already been finalised at the SAOC Executive Committee Meeting held in February last year in Lahore.

Moreover, the South Asian countries agreed to initiate further deliberations on developing a more sustainable and future-oriented model for sports in South Asia, with a focus on long-term regional cooperation and efficient delivery of multi-sport events.

“During the meeting, Mohyuddin, extended an invitation to the South Asian countries to visit Pakistan in May 2026, with a view to continuing consultations, reviewing and monitoring the progress of preparations for the [2027] South Asian Games, and strengthening regional collaboration in sport,” the POA news release concluded.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2026