ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: Lt. Gen Syed Arif Hasan said Monday that preparations for the forthcoming SAF Games had been virtually completed, only rehearsals for the opening and closing ceremonies had to be done.

Arif, the chairman of the SAF Games Organising Committee (SGOC) told a news conference that the rehearsals were planned for mid January.

The SGOC, Arif said, had received no negative indications from India that they will not come. “We have been informed they’ll be sending a heavy contingent for the Games as well as the SASF meeting.”

Meanwhile, the deadline for entries by numbers for the Games is Jan 25 while that for entries by names is Feb 28, another official of the SGOC said.