KARACHI, July 22: Billed as the biggest sporting spectacle of South Asia, the 10th South Asian Games (formerly SAF Games) returns to Colombo after 15 years where it runs from Aug 18 to 28.

Earlier, Colombo played host to the fifth games in 1991.

After the establishment of SAARC, Nepal offered to stage the inaugural edition of the games at Kathmandu from Sept 17 to 23, 1984. All the seven member countries — Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives participated.

Competitions were held in five disciplines, i.e. athletics, boxing, football, swimming and weightlifting. Pakistan donated trophy for weightlifting, India for athletics, Bangladesh for football, Sri Lanka for swimming and host Nepal contributed the boxing trophy to set the ball rolling.

A 16-member Pakistan squad that featured in athletics, boxing and weightlifting finished third on the medals table behind champions India and Sri Lanka, securing five golds, three silvers and two bronze.

The pugilists grabbed four golds while the lifters annexed one gold and two silvers. The athletes picked up a silver and two bronze.

Final medals table of the inaugural South Asian Games:

G S B

India 44 28 16

Sri Lanka 7 11 19

Pakistan 5 3 2

Nepal 4 12 8

Bangladesh 2 8 13

Bhutan - - 2

Maldives - - 1

In the second games held at Dhaka from Dec 20 to 26, 1985 Pakistani weightlifters helped their country finish runners up on the medals table behind arch rivals India. They were absolutely outstanding, bagging as many as eight golds, 10 silvers and four bronze. Pakistan’s final medals tally came to 21 golds, 26 silvers and 12 bronze from seven disciplines. Kabaddi and wrestling were included for the first time.

There were two silver-linings as grappler Abdul Majeed and pugilist Babar Ali Khan were declared ‘Best Wrestler’ and ‘Best Boxer’ respectively.

In athletics, Pakistan could grab only two golds, four silvers and four bronze. The golds came through the efforts of Manzoor Ahmad in 110-metre hurdles and Mohammad Rashid in javelin throw.

In boxing, Pakistan fetched seven golds, four silvers and a bronze. Those who did the country proud by winning gold were Mohammad Amin (fly weight), Abdul Khaliq (feather weight), Babar Ali Khan (light weight), Abrar Hussain (light middleweight), Hussain Shah (middle weight), Mohammad Riaz (light heavyweight) and Abdul Salam Kakar (super heavyweight).

In football, Pakistan went down 2-3 to Nepal on penalty kicks after the two teams failed to settle the issue in regulation time to occupy fourth position.

In Kabaddi, Pakistan had to be content with bronze as India won top honours and Bangladesh, occupying second slot.

In swimming, Pakistan failed to leave any impact and returned goldless.

In wrestling, Mohammad Azeem (57kg), Abdul Majeed (90kg), Mohammad Akram (100kg) and Salahuddin (over 100kg) fetched gold for their country.

In weight lifting, the gold winners were Rafe Saeed Butt in 82.5 (snatch & total), Khwaja Samiuddin in 110kg (snatch, clean & jerk and total) and Asif Anjum in over 110kg (snatch, clean & jerk and total).

Final medal table:

G S B

India 61 32 14

Pakistan 21 26 12

Bangladesh 9 17 38

Sri Lanka 2 7 9

Nepal 1 9 22

Bhutan - - 4

Maldives - - -

Boxer Hussain Shah’s hat-trick, paddler Arif Khan’s gold medal feat, athletes Mohammad Fayyaz (400m) and Haider Ali Shah (triple jump) were brilliant and set major milestones for Pakistan, as hosts India maintained its supremacy in the third games held at Kolkata from November 19 to 28, 1987.

The games were staged in 10 disciplines-athletics, basketball, boxing, football, kabaddi, swimming, table tennis, volleyball, weight lifting and wrestling. Three discipline-basketball, table tennis and volleyball were added to the games for the first time.

Pugilist Hussain Shah who won the gold in the earlier two editions, continued his wining spree when he beat M. P. Singh of India in the final to clinch third successive gold and deservedly won ‘Best Boxer” award.

Another notable performance came from Arif Khan when he annexed the gold in men’s singles outplaying top seed Kamlesh Mehta of India in the five set thrilling final.

Fayyaz and Haider stole the limelight in track and field, setting new marks in 400 metres and triple jump. Mohammad Rashid and Shahid Mahmood did not lag behind when they won gold in javelin throw and 400-metres hurdles. Pakistani quartet also won gold in 4x400 metres relay.

Pakistan had to be content with silver in basketball.

In football, the men in green settled for a bronze when they scored a solitary goal win over fancied Bangladesh in the play-off for third and fourth position. Earlier, Pakistan held eventual champion India to a goalless draw in the group match.

The swimmers once again gave dismal performance and could only grab two bronze.

Rafe Saeed Butt (three golds), Khwaja Samiuddin (two golds) and Ghulam dastagir Butt (one gold) stole the limelight as Pakistan clinched six golds to settle for second place in weightlifting.

Tahir Saeed and Abdul Majeed did the country proud by securing one gold apiece in wrestling.

Final medal table:

G S B

India 91 45 19

Pakistan 16 35 14

Sri Lanka 4 7 23

Bangladesh 3 21 31

Nepal 2 7 33

Bhutan - 1 5

Maldives - - -

—A.Z.

(To be continued)