COLOMBO:

India’s Uttranchal state will host the inaugural Winter South Asian Games in 2008, officials said on Monday. The South Asian Olympic Council decided to introduce a regional winter competition and accepted India’s bid to stage the first games, said Randhir Singh, secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association. Singh, who is also secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Asia, said Dehra-dun and Auli would be the joint venues for the first Sou-th Asian Winter Games.