Even as the India-Pakistan cricket series continues to hog the limelight, a determined Indian contingent will strive to maintain its dominance in the SAF Games, starting on March 29 in Islamabad.
India has already announced a 400-member contingent comprising athletes and officials who will travel to Pakistan for the multi-discipline event, which ends on April 7.
With this being the Olympic year, leading athletes have kept away from the Games and the Indian Olympic Association is forced to field a second string in most disciplines.
The Games, aimed at strengthening ties between SAARC nations, return to Pakistan after being deferred several times since 1999 due to security concerns following the September 11 attacks in the United States and India's refusal to send a team to the country.
Keeping in view the perceived security threat this time as well, the Pakistan army has been entrusted to organise the event, which will cost around Rs 500 million. The money will be raised by the Games' organising committee.
Pakistan's Sports and Cultural Minister Rais Munir Ahmed said the government is giving top priority to fool-proof security arrangements while Interior Secretary Tasneem Noorani added all law enforcement agencies are on full alert.
The Games were re-scheduled for last March in Pakistan but they received another jolt when the Indian Olympic Association decided to pull out citing threats to its athletes from terrorist outfits operating in Pakistan.
The continued delay in hosting the event forced the executive committee of the Games to opt for Colombo as its next venue in 2005. But with tension easing between India and Pakistan, the committee decided to advance the event this year and shifted it back to Islamabad.
Pakistan's participation in the inaugural Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad last December prompted India to reciprocate and participate in the regional competition.
India dominated the medals tally in the previous edition in Kathmandu in 1999 with a rich haul of 562 gold, 362 silver and 204 bronze medals. Pakistan followed with 142 gold, 207 silver and 154 bronze medals.
The number of events at the Games went up from mere five in 1984 to 14 in 1995, after India introduced three new events, including hockey.
Surprisingly, Pakistan, which is among the best hockey-playing nations, have replaced hockey with the less popular squash in this year's Games.
Other disciplines include athletics, swimming, boxing, football, volleyball, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, badminton, table tennis, shooting, swimming and rowing.
For the cricket fans visiting Pakistan for the ongoing Indo-Pak series, the Games could be another reason cheer for their country.
Baljit Singh Sethi will accompany the Indian contingent as chef-de-mission. P A Hamasa has been appointed his deputy and Ashutosh Sharma secretary-cum-treasurer.
