After years of delay and uncertainty, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has confirmed that the 14th South Asian Games will take place from January 23 to 31, 2026, across Lahore, Faisalabad, and Islamabad. This decision was finalized at the South Asian Olympic Council’s (SAOC) Executive Committee meeting in Lahore on Tuesday.
The meeting, chaired by Arif Saeed—President of both the SAOC and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Pakistan—was attended by representatives from all South Asian nations, with delegates from Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka present in person, while an Indian representative participated via video link.
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In its press release, the POA praised the productive discussions and the strong commitment of the South Asian NOCs to advancing regional sports development. “The Executive Committee of the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) concluded a highly productive meeting today at Lahore, marking significant progress in preparations for the 14th South Asian Games, which will be held from 23rd to 31st January 2026 in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Islamabad,” the statement read.
The meeting also underscored the role of sports in fostering peace and unity in the region, citing the achievements of athletes like Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem and India’s Neeraj Chopra, whose successes at the Paris 2024 Olympics brought global attention to South Asia.
Sports Disciplines and Preparations
The SAOC has approved 27 sports disciplines for the games, including major events such as cricket, hockey, football, athletics, and swimming. The complete list of sports includes:
- Swimming (Men & Women)
- Archery (Men & Women)
- Athletics (Men & Women)
- Badminton (Men & Women)
- Billiards & Snooker (Men)
- Boxing (Men & Women)
- Fencing (Men & Women)
- Golf (Men & Women)
- Judo (Men & Women)
- Karate (Men & Women)
- Shooting (Men & Women)
- Squash (Men & Women)
- Table Tennis (Men & Women)
- Taekwondo (Men & Women)
- Tennis (Men & Women)
- Triathlon (Men & Women)
- Weightlifting (Men & Women)
- Wrestling (Men & Women)
- Wushu (Men & Women)
- Basketball 3×3 and 5×5 (Men & Women)
- Cricket (Men & Women)
- Football (Men & Women)
- Handball (Men & Women)
- Beach Handball (Men)
- Hockey (Men)
- Mat Kabaddi (Men & Women)
- Rugby (Men)
- Volleyball (Men & Women)
- Beach Volleyball (Men)
- Rowing (proposed as an optional sport, pending endorsement from at least four NOCs)
Technical handbooks for each sport will be prepared and released by March 31, 2025, subject to approval by the respective Asian Federations.
Additional Developments
The SAOC also announced the creation of a committee to review and update its constitution to align with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Constitution. Federal Secretary of the Sports Ministry, Zahoor Ahmed Chaudhry, who was present at the meeting, stressed the games’ importance in promoting sports development in Pakistan.
As preparations move forward, all eyes are on Pakistan to host a successful and memorable edition of the South Asian Games.
