The 12th South Asian Games will be jointly hosted by Indian cities of Gowahati and Shilong from January 10 to 20 next year, the Bangladesh Olympic Association officials confirmed it on Monday. BOA has already began their preparation by providing the letters to 20 sports federations to participate in the multi-discipline event after the Indian Olympic Association confirmed the schedule on Sunday.
Even though the hosts are yet were to finalise the number of disciplines, BOA has decided to start the preparation camp after the Eid-ul-Fitr.
BOA initially selected 20 disciplines for participating in the meet, excluding three disciplines wushu, judo and squash.
In the last SA Games held in Dhaka in 2010, Bangladesh finished third by winning 18 gold medals including two in wushu.
‘We didn’t consider wushu, judo and squash as those organisations didn’t run any programme in recent years,’ BOA’s training and development committee chairman Ashikur Rahman Miku said on Monday.
‘We won two gold medals in wushu in the Dhaka Games, but they failed to continue their programmes regularly.’
BOA secretary general Shahed Reza said they will seek financial support from the government to start the training camp after Eid.
‘We have already informed 20 sports federations to start their preparation after the Eid-ul-Fitr,’ said Reza.
‘But everything is depending on fund. We will meet with the state minister for youth and sports Biren Sikder for financial support.
‘If the government do not extend their support it will be tough to maintain our previous success.’
Meanwhile, hosts India are also facing some problems to finalise the disciplines as they are still thinking to keep the cricket discipline after the Board of Control for Cricket in India refused to participate in the meet.
‘Most of the member associations are interested in participating in the cricket discipline,’ said Reza.
‘But India are yet to inform us anything about the issue.’
-With New Age input
