The Executive Committee of the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) concluded a highly productive meeting 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.
Chaired by Arif Saeed, President SAOC and National Olympic Committee (NOC) Pakistan, the meeting reinforced the collective commitment of South Asian NOCs to fostering regional sports development and strengthening cooperation through sports. The discussions highlighted how the region’s athletes, Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra, brought South Asia into the global spotlight at Paris 2024 by winning medals in javelin throw — an achievement that not only inspired the youth of the subcontinent but also underscored the power of sports in promoting peace, unity and shared aspirations across borders.
The meeting was attended by representatives from NOCs Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan:
• NOC Bangladesh: Ashiqur Rahman Miku and Siraj Uddin Md Alamgir
• NOC Bhutan: Nim Dorji
• NOC India: Nazima Khan (joined remotely)
• NOC Maldives: Thamooh Ahmed Saeed and Ahmed Munthaqim NOC Nepal: Jeevan Ram Shrestha
• NOC Sri Lanka: Suresh Subramaniam, Edirimuni Niluka, Rushan Karunaratne and Ilanga Pathiratnalage Wijeratne
• NOC Pakistan: Arif Saeed, Fatima Lakhani and Muhammad Khalid Mahmood.
On the special request of Arif Saeed, President NOC Pakistan, Zahoor Ahmed Chaudhry, Federal Secretary Sports (Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination Division) also attended and met the delegates.
Key Outcomes of the Meeting
Finalized Games Schedule – The 14th South Asian Games will take place from January 23 to 31, 2026, with events set to be hosted across Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad.
Approval of Sports Program – 27 Sports were already agreed upon by the South Asian NOCs as per the rules of South Asia Olympic Council by circulation.
The final list of sports approved and decided in the meeting is listed in next item. It was also decided events for each sports will also be decided before March 31, 2025 and the Technical Handbooks will be prepared and released subject to approval of the Asian Federations concerned.
Formation of SAOC Constitution Review Committee – A committee has been established to review and update the SAOC Constitution, aligning it with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Constitution.
It was also agreed that to benefit from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), SAOC Secretariat will invite an OCA representative to all future SAOC meetings.
Approved Sports for the 14th South Asian Games The following sports have been confirmed for inclusion in the 14th South Asian Games:
Aquatics – 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) and Beach Handball (Men), Hockey (Men), Mat Kabaddi (Men & Women), Rugby (Men), Volleyball (Men & Women) & Beach Volleyball (Men) and Rowing.
Throughout the meeting, solidarity, cooperation and the shared vision of strengthening sports in South Asia remained at the core of discussions.
He further commended the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, for his strong leadership and unwavering commitment to ensuring the successful hosting of the Games.
His support has been pivotal in accelerating preparations and reinforcing Pakistan’s dedication to delivering a world-class sporting event.
With preparations now fully underway, SAOC looks forward to hosting a memorable and impactful edition of the South Asian Games in 2026, bringing athletes and nations together in the true spirit of sportsmanship and regional unity.
