The much-awaited hour is almost here. The 12th South Asian Games will be launched with pomp and grandeur at the Indira Gandhi stadium, Sarurasajai, on Friday evening.
Originally scheduled to be back in 2012, the prestigious multi-discipline event encompassing competitions in 23 disciplines and 241 events well be held across two cities — Shillong being the other host city — for the first time, and will see the participation of a record turnout of about 3,325 athletes and officials from the eight participating countries.
That the event is being hosted for the first time in the North East of the country does add significance to the Games, the curtains to which will be brought down on February 16.
From a historical perspective, the South Asian Games were established as a movement to foster peace and friendship through regular sporting contact between athletes from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and current host India. The first edition was held in Kathmandu in 1984.
This is the third time India will host the Games, after Kolkata in 1987 and Chennai in 1995, and it will have hopes of continuing with its overall dominance across venues for a twelfth straight time.
Through the last 11 editions, India has been virtually unstoppable, racking up a haul of 1,728 medals — 900 gold, 542 silver and 286 bronze — leaving second-placed Pakistan (1,022, 311-375-336) and Sri Lanka (928, 185-245-455) in third far behind.
The script is unlikely to change this time around. The hosts will have participants in all 23 disciplines, and will be cheered by a partisan crowd both here and in Shillong.
With India attempting to come up with yet another record haul, the more keenly watched race will be the one for second spot involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Sport apart, the presence of the Pakistani contingent numbering 475 has also caused the Games to be held under unprecedented security cover, with the State and Central security agencies virtually turning both host cities into virtual fortresses.
As the main host city, Guwahati has been given the major share of the disciplines including athletics, basketball, cycling, football, handball, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, shooting, squash, swimming, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
The rest of the eight disciplines — archery, badminton, boxing, women’s football, judo, table tennis, taekwondo and wushu — will be held in Shillong.
While the continuing dominance of the Indian teams is bound to bring a lot to cheer to the crowds, there are a lot of observers who feel that these Games would have been a better platform for youngsters instead of the tried and tested athletes who have already done the country proud several times over.
Though this could trigger off a heated debate, it should be admitted that there is some substance to this idea that India could well have fielded its upcoming stars from the junior level and the Universities with an eye on the future, leaving at least those who have attained the qualifying mark for the Rio Olympics later this year to remain focussed on their preparations.
However, these suggestions have come too late in the day, and with less than 24 hours remaining for the opening ceremony, to be graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest, the focus will once again remain on yet another dominant showing by the Indian team against the regional minnows.
