South Asian Games will begin in Guwahati today

The 12th South Asian Games begin in Guwahati today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will declare the Games open at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium. Over 2,500 athletes from 8 SAARC nations - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives - will be vying for top honours during the Games, which are being co-hosted by Shillong. A total of 228 events in 23 sports disciplines will be played during the 12-day event.

Tagged as the biggest multi-sporting event in the SAARC region, the South Asian Games will kick off in Guwahati today. India, which has hosted the Games three times and had been the champions



on all the 11 occasions, has fielded a strong contingent for the Games. Shuttlers Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and K. Srikanth; Squash players, Dipika Pallikal, Saurav Ghoshal and Joshana Chinappa; Pugilists MC Marykom and L. Sarita Devi; Shooter Gagan Narang, and Archers, Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Laishram and Jayanta Talukdar are among the prominent Indian athletes participating in the tournament. 

Besides, the Indian participation will also figure in many other sport disciplines including Wrestling, Weightlifting, Athletics, Hockey, Football and Wushu. Pakistan's 456-member contingent will also be competing in the Games