The Hindu : SAF Games: Organisers have things under control

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

SAF Games: Organisers have things under control

By Kamesh Srinivasan

— Photo: V. Sudershan

Mounted police patrolling the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad on Saturday.

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 27. `Welcome to the Neighbourhood'. That is how the colourful hoarding greets one in front of the Jinnah Stadium here. Linking people, connecting nations. That is what SAF Games is all about for the neighbourhood, and the organisers are working overtime to make the ninth edition a roaring success.

Right from the time you land in Lahore, and then drive 400 kilometres on one of the finest motorways in this part of the world, comparable to the best in Europe, on which driving below 110 kilometres per hour is literally a crime, there is one thing that keeps hitting you again and again — a hearty welcome.

There is understandable concern about the security, as the newspapers even talk about anti-aircraft guns being installed at various places in the Capital, to provide matching security for the Games to the arrangements made for the recent SAARC summit.

Yet, the security overall is quite unobtrusive as one walks around the various venues, amidst armed personnel. With two more days left for the competition to start, though football could not wait for the inauguration and kicked off this afternoon, the organisers had things under control in terms of being prepared to host the mega event.

The venues have been kept in sparkling shape, and the only disappointment has been the lack of electronic targets at the nicely-built shooting range.

There is tremendous enthusiasm among the local people, and quite obviously cricket has not overshadowed the Games, at least in this part of the country. The first India-Pakistan Test in the current cricket series may be beginning in Multan on Sunday, but people here are aware of the SAF Games, and even try to find whether the entry would be free for the public.

The only cause of concern for one and all could be the long power-cuts that have been plunging the Jinnah Stadium into a state of inactivity. But that problem should be addressed soon.

The Indian polo team has been providing the warm-up for the SAF Games with the SAF polo challenge. In a keen contest, Pakistan prevailed 11-7 this day in the third and decisive match of the home series, to emerge triumphant 2-1.

The event, beamed `live' has been a nice preparation for the TV network TWI, that is trying to put together a quality package, in collaboration with the local network, for viewership in the subcontinent.

Tough call for

Indian footballers

The Indian football team reached here on Friday evening, while the second batch is scheduled to reach on Sunday evening. Except for the athletics, boxing, kabaddi, taekwondo and weightlifting teams that are scheduled to travel for the competition on March 30, the rest of the Indian competitors will arrive in time for the opening ceremony.

It will be a tough call for the Indian kids, under 19 years of age, to face the mite of Bangladesh, the defending champion, in their opening football encounter of the under-23 contest on Sunday morning at the Quayyum Stadium in Peshawar. However, the Indian boys looked enthusiastic to make the maximum of the opportunity of competing in an international competition.

Pakistan and Afghanistan will be the others teams in India's group, while the second group will have Bhutan and Nepal which played a goalless draw this afternoon at the Army Stadium in Rawalpindi, apart from Sri Lanka. The top two teams in the two groups will make it to the semifinals.

India may not be a force in football in this region, but the Indian contingent in itself will not waste time brooding about it, as it is expected to reap about 200 medals in this edition. That may not be welcome for the Pakistanis and the rest, and that may only mean good contests, a welcome feature for the sports enthusiasts.

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