Kathmandu, June 6

The South Asian Olympic Council today decided to propose 28 sports disciplines in the 13th South Asian Games to be hosted by Nepal in 2019.

The meeting, chaired by President of SAOC and Nepal Olympic Committee Jeevan Ram Shrestha in Thimpu, also decided to finalise the events during the next meeting on the sidelines of the Asian Martial Arts Indoor Games slated for September in Turkmenistan.

“The meeting picked up 28 disciplines to propose for the next meeting which will finalise 25 for the 13th SA Games to be held in Nepal,” NOC President Shrestha told The Himalayan Times. “Apart from the 23 disciplines included in the 12th SA Games held in India two years ago, the meeting added Karate, Cricket, Golf, Fencing and Sepak Takraw,” Shrestha added.

The meeting also noted the exit of Afghanistan from the South Asian Games apart from amending the statute of the SAOC. The meeting also reached the decision of picking up the hosts for the 14th edition of the regional sporting extravaganza from the meeting to be held in the Maldives later this year.

Shrestha said the International Hockey Federation officials were ready to provide Nepal with the turf for the Games. “If we can prepare a venue, the IHF has assured us of donating the turf,” he added.

Regarding the statute amendment, the SAOC agreed to adapt a new model for the selection of the hosts. “We are planning to go with a new model which requires commitment from host country’s government and the local government apart from deposit,” said Shrestha.

Joint Secretary at Ministry of Youth and Sports Ram Prasad Thapaliya, NOC and SAOC General Secretary Lama Tendi Sherpa, NOC Member Nilendra Shrestha and Executive Secretary Sujan Lal Shrestha also attended the meeting.