Initially, there was skepticism. Then cynicism. Finally, the stage is set and curtains are ready to go up. Amid angst and fear, somewhere there are traces of hope. Blame it on the collective consciousness of a race not accustomed to multi-discipline events, the South Asian Games never got the attention it deserved until a few weeks ago. It’s not unusual. History has witnessed it before. It happened during the 1982 Asian Games and South Asian Games a decade ago in Chennai, Delhi felt it during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. But despite shortcomings and apprehensions, especially after the scandals of CWG, Guwahati and Shillong are set to celebrate SAG.
As always, India woke up late and now after delays, preparations are somehow inching towards the deadline. The Games, supposed to be held in 2012, got deferred because of the 2010 CWG corruption scandal and subsequent suspension of the Indian Olympic Association. Not until the new government took over and the sports minister showed interest in reviving the Games, did the idea take shape. The IOA that kept postponing, finally called a meeting last year and it was in June that some kind of groundwork started.
With Assam elections scheduled later this year and Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal being projected as the chief ministerial candidate (announced on Thursday), this turned into a political turf war between the ruling Congress government in Assam and sports ministry at the Centre. Though Guwahati had the infrastructure from hosting National Games in 2007, they needed upgrading. There were issues with scoring systems and other equipment. Indoor halls in Shillong had flaws. The initial budget of Rs 75 crore has swollen to Rs 165 crore. Another Rs 56 crore was allotted for security.
Organising the event became a challenge. With IOA bungling up with CWG, it was reluctant to plunge headlong. The state ministry was suspicious and until they got assurance from the Centre that it will take care of finances, they did not budge. It was only around Sept-Oct that real work started. Until then, there were fights between stakeholders. IOA itself was a divided house.
Being an Olympic year, a lot of top athletes were thinking of giving it a miss. If not for the intervention of the sports ministry and Sports Authority of India, no top players would have been present in Guwahati or Shillong. Unlike 2010 CWG, IOA was involved more in the technical conduct than organising. The states did their bit in refurbishing infrastructure. SAI DG Injeti Srinivas, heading operations in Guwahati and taking care of most of the logistics, however, has put it more sublimely: “It’s a collective effort that everything has been assembled and taken care of within such a short notice.”
The Challenges
The road was fraught with challenges. Shooting venues were not ready, so was hockey. Boxing and basketball had fights between factions. It was only because of the ministry diktat that they came together to host the Games. Basketball, until Saturday, is still not certain.
As Srinivas says: “It’s always a challenge to organise a multi-discipline event. And if there are more than one country, the challenge amplifies. Protocols are stringent. There are multi-layers of logistics involved. You have to comply with all requirements. When you have a lot of teams, there are a lot of requirements. It also requires all stakeholders to be in sync.”
IOA president N Ramachandran echoes Srinivas’ words. “Of course there are challenges. Biggest was keeping member countries abreast with the latest events while postponing the Games. They were very cooperative.” As to initiative of the IOA in organising the Games, he says it’s nothing like that. “We are one of the stakeholders and cooperating wherever necessary,” he says. “Organising a Games requires greater degree of cooperation between the government, IOA and other stakeholders.”
To put it in perspective, the SAI DG says that states too played their part. “They had to ensure infrastructure was in place. They also had to ensure law and order. Another important thing is to ensure all overlays are in place and with the Games just a week away, I can tell you everything is in place.
“The real time, result management systems and more importantly, overlays. They are critical in hosting the Games. They are in place too. It’s as big a challenge as the 2010 Commonwealth Games because you have 23 disciplines compared to 17. You may argue there are only eight teams, but one has to see that 23 venues need to be ready. Also, 3500-4000 athletes and officials are expected to participate.
“Everything was possible because the Games had the blessings of the Prime Minister. Since a Games of this magnitude is being conducted in the Northeast for the first time, the security system needs to be intense. Even for this a whole lot of coordination needed to take place between the state and central government.” The government has already sanctioned 50 additional companies for the Games. The government has also sanctioned Rs 60 crore for equipment and logistics. Air defence system will be in place and there will be multi-layer security. “For the first time there is integration in the Games management system. Everything is done within a shoe-string budget. In fact, we are redefining conducting Games.”
Apparently, what the SAG is spending is what CWG must have spent on the opening ceremony! The IOA president explains his body’s position. “No national Olympic committee can conduct a Games without the support of the government. Here the government is willing to spend.”
Legacy & Aura
Playing down the political issue on selecting the Northeast, Ramachandran asks, “Why not Guwahati and Shillong? People ask this but my question is why not these cities? They have been producing some of the best Olympic athletes and should get an opportunity to host. Look at the world class infrastructure they will inherit. The legacy will be utilised in this part of the country.
“For example, Guwahati will have some of the best squash infrastructure once the Games are over and who knows in the next few years we might see squash players from this part of the country.”
The ministry might have asked federations to ensure best athletes join the 12-day extravaganza. Has it lost its aura? “Even then (eighties) there was no competition but we used to participate for the sake of the country,” says athlete PT Usha.
Oympic bronze Gagan Narang
Any opportunity to play for the country is great more so shooting ahead of the Rio Olympics is good. SAG will provide me match and finals exposure and that's essentially the reason I decided to participate. Also shooting high scores are always important ahead of the Rio Games. For me it is important to shoot in all formats so that I am Rio ready.
PT Usha
There was never any competition for athletes in SAG. Even now there's nothing. Yet I always competed at the Games (Kolkata and Chennai) because of the crowd. Representing India is always great. Usha is one of the most decorated athletes in SAG. 5 gold in 1987 Games, one bronze in Chennai 1995 and one gold and two silver at Kathamndu Games.
Meet the rivals
Bangladesh
Finished third behind India and Pakistan in the previous edition it also hosted, though it had a better overall medal tally than the latter (97 medals to Pakistan’s 80). Also won only one gold less than Pakistan. Will look to bag medals in athletics, taekwondo, boxing and weightlifting. The 2010 football champs will face stiff competition from India.
2 to watch
Tamimul Islam Archery
With seniors struggling, focus has shifted to the 16-year-old recurve bowman, who won Youth Commonwealth Games gold last September. Can he bag Bangla’s first archery gold in the Games?
Abdur Rahim Boxing
The 2010 64kg gold winner spearheads his country’s campaign in boxing, though in 69kg. Faces big challenge from India’s Mandeep Jangra.
Bhutan
Archery is their national game, and will be one of the disciplines the country could bag medals. Have won two silver and a bronze in SAG so far. Will also have high hopes in taekwondo, in which it has bagged a maximum number of medals at the Games (2 gold, 10 silver, 11 bronze) and boxing (1 silver and bronze each in the last edition).
2 to watch
Doten Dorji Taekwondo
The 2014 Asian Games quarterfinalist will be confident of winning a medal. Won bronze in the recent Mount Everest Open in Nepal.
Chencho Gyeltshen Football
Their football team is one of the lowest-ranked in the world, but boasts of the country’s most famous sports star. The 19-year-old called CG7 recently helped his team beat Sri Lanka.
Pakistan
In the previous four editions, finished second behind India. But Sri Lanka and Bangladesh could run them close this time. Also, events such as boxing and football have been hit due to infighting and lack of funds. The defending champs in hockey can also do well in wrestling, weightlifting, handball, squash, shooting, kabaddi, volleyball, wushu and judo.
2 to watch
Muhammad Inam Wrestling
One of Pakistan’s top wrestlers, he will lead the wrestling challenge in the 86kg category. Won gold in 2010 CWG.
Maria Toorpakai Squash
Born in the conservative region of Waziristan, she used to dress up as a boy to play. Ranked 48, way below some Indian stars, she can be dangerous on her day.
Sri Lanka
Have improved, but also missed out on regional plaudits due to the rise of Bangladesh. Third with 178 medals in 2006, managed just 105 in 2010. Will target medals in athletics, where they won 7 gold and 8 silver behind India’s 10 gold and 11 silver in 2010. Can also do well in cycling, swimming, boxing and taekwondo.
2 to watch
Sumeda Ranasinghe Javelin
With a personal best of 83.04m, qualified for Olympics last month and will be one of the favourites. Incidentally, Indian Rajinder Singh’s best is 82.23m.
NCD Priyadarshani Long jump
The defending champion is in prime form, having returned to her best to set a national record of 6.43m last month.
Nepal
Finished fourth in 2006 and fifth in 2010. In 2010, won most of its medals in athletics, karate (also gave Nepal its sole medal at the 2014 Asiad but is not part of SAG 2016), taekwondo, shooting and wushu.
2 to watch
Ayesha Shakya Taekwondo
The veteran who bagged the 2006 Asian Games bronze, is the defending champ in 62kg. Has been successful since returning in 2014 from a two-year parenting break.
Sneh Rana Shooting
The Olympian holds the national record in women’s 10m air rifle. If the 21-year-old overcomes inexperience, she can fight for a first big medal.
Afghanistan
Won 7 gold in 2010, with taekwondo contributing to 3. Other sports they dominated include karate (not part of 2016), wrestling and basketball (men’s gold). Taekwondo will continue to be their focus. In 2014 Asian Games, won three medals, two in taekwondo. Could have done well in football, but the team has pulled out.
2 to watch
Rohullah Nikpai Taekwondo
Possibly the only two-time Olympic medal winner at SAG, Nikpai is a national hero. Learnt taekwondo at relief camps in Iran and won bronze at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Nesar Ahmad Bahave
Taekwondo
The veteran won lightweight bronze at Asian Games 2006 and was the flagbearer for Afghanistan at the 2012 London Olympics. Competing in the -80 kg category.
Maldives
Didn’t win a medal in 2006 and won two bronze in 2010. Has the second smallest squad among all countries. Will hope to win a medal in football.