ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: Training camps for the 200-strong Pakistani contingent that will participate in the 15th Asian Games will commence on September 12 across the country. This was decided at a meeting of the National Sports Federations officials here on Friday which was chaired by Lt. Col. (Retd) Salahuddin, Director General, Pakistan Sports Board.

Pakistan will be competing in 21 disciplines at the Asian Games which are scheduled to be held at Doha, Qatar from December 1.

The officials discussed the modalities for the preparation and participation in the Games. Director General, PSB, lauded the performance of athletes in the recently concluded 10th South Asian Games in which Pakistan finished runners-up on the medals table with 43 gold, as many silver and 72 bronze medals, a total of 158 medals.

It was decided that national training camps in athletics, bodybuilding, boxing, billiards & snooker, cycling, football, golf, judo, kabaddi, karate, rowing, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu will commence from September 12 at Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi.

It was also decided that teams will be sent abroad for training-cum-competition tours before the Asiad. The concerned federations will submit proper proposals for government clearance. The expenditure in this regard will be borne by the Pakistan Sports Trust.

The Director General, Pakistan Sports Board, informed the house that Pakistan contingent comprising approximately 200 members will participate in the Asian Games.

The organizing committee is providing free boarding and lodging facilities to the participating nations for the first time in the history of this mega event. The contingent will depart in different groups depending upon the availability of flights.—APP