SAF Games

The South Asian Federation Games (SAF Games) is a sport festival of South Asian countries. The South Asian Sports Federation comprising India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives was formed in New Delhi on November 26, 1982.

⇒ The first SAF Games were held in Kathmandu in 1984 followed by Dhaka (1985), Kolkata (1987), Islamabad (1989), Colombo (1991), Dhaka (1993) and Chennai (1995).

⇒ The Eighth SAF Games (September 25-October 4, 1999) were held in Kathmandu.

⇒ As hitherto, India notched the top position winning 197 medals including 102 Gold. Nepal with 65 medals including 31 golds and Sri Lanka 119 medals (16 golds) finished on the second and third places, respectively.

⇒ The 10th South Asian Federation Games (18-28 August, 2006) were held in Sri Lanka and India retained the crown, with 118 Gold, 69 Silver and 47 Bronze. Pakistan (43-44-71) and hosts Sri Lanka (3-63-78) came son on the second and third positions respectively in the medals tally.

Flag and Motto of the SAF Games: The SAF Games flag includes a dove, suggesting the desire for peace in the area. The motto of the SAF Games is ‘Peace, Prosperity and Progress’.

New Name for SAF Games: The SAF Games have been rechristened as South Asian Games (SAG), according to a decision taken by the South Asian Sports Federation at its 32nd meeting held in Islamabad (Pakistan) on April 2, 2004.

⇒ India retained the crown at the 12th SA Games (05-16 February, 2016) played in Guwahati (Asom) and Shillong (Meghalaya).

⇒ It finished on top of the medals tally with 180 gold, 90 silver and 30 bronze medals.

⇒ Sri Lanka came second and Pakistan third.

⇒ ‘Tikhor’, a one-horned rhino was the mascot and ‘Play for Peace, Progress and Prosperity’ was the slogan of the 12th SAG.

⇒ The 2019 South Asian Games, officially the XIII South Asian Games, was a major multi-sport event which was originally slated to be held from 9th to 18th March, 2019 in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal. However, the dates were postponed and the event was held from 1st-10th December 2019, coincidentally at the same time as the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.

⇒ The new dates were confirmed at the South Asian Olympic Council Executive Board meeting in Bangkok on 1st March 2019.

⇒ The Dasarath Stadium hosted the opening ceremony along with the men’s football tournament, with the stadium’s renovation after the 2015 earthquake completed in under 10 months with an increased capacity of 20,000 along with the closing ceremony on 10th December.

⇒ On 13th May 2019, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Nepal unveiled the logo and mascot of the 13th South Asian Games. The ministry along with the Nepal Olympic Committee revealed a pair of blackbucks (Krishnashar) as the official mascot for the 2019 South Asian Games. Blackbucks are the only extant member of the genus Antelope and mostly found in the southern region of Nepal and is an endangered species with in Nepal.

⇒ The committee also revealed the official logo of the Games, a flying pigeon that embodies the vibrant colour of the logo of South Asia Olympic Council. It also includes world heritage sites and mountains of Nepal in the background.

⇒ Seven countries competed. For the first time since 1999, Afghanistan did not compete at the South Asian Games, after leaving the South Asia Olympic Council in 2016. A total of 2,715 athletes competed.

Bangladesh (470)*, Bhutan (116)*, India (487)*, Maldives (216)*, Nepal (596)*, Pakistan (263)*, Sri Lanka (564)*

⇒ These Games featured 26 sports with cricket returning after 8 years. Golf and karate were the two sports added by the hosts as their choice. All events must include a minimum of four participating teams otherwise it will not be held. Paragliding, which was scheduled to debut, was removed, as only two nations (Nepal and Pakistan) had registered competitors.

⇒ Indian high jumper Sarvesh Anil Kushare created Games record in the final of the high jump event. He jumped a height of 2.21 meter breaking 2.20 meters set by Sri Lankan athlete Manjula Kumara at the 2004 edition.

⇒ Karthik Unnikrishnan of India broke the previous Games’ Triple jump record of 16.45 metres set by Indian Renjith Maheshwary in the previous edition. He jumped a distance of 16.47 metres to win the gold medal.

⇒ Asian Games champion, Tejinder Pal Singh set a new Games record in Shot put. He threw the shot at a distance of 20.03 metres breaking previous record of 19.15 metres set by another Indian athlete Bahadur Singh Sagoo in the 1999 edition.

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