9th SAF Games in retrospect
By Sushil Thapa
(May 2004)

Looking back at the  Ninth South Asian Federation Games (SAFG) held  in Pakistan recently there is very little to write about. The games held after a  series of postponements failed to generate the much expected fireworks and excitement. 

Performance wise there was hardly any individual or team accomplishments to boast of or highlight. By and large, it was a routine spectacle marked with mediocrity. Indeed a huge disappointment to sports fans in the region we were left to witness a drab and dull affair. Undoubtedly, we have further fallen behind in international sports and face a daunting task to catch up with the rest of the world. The sloppy manner in which things played out in Pakistan hardly makes us optimistic about the games' future.

Coming back to the games there were no big surprises or upsets. The big names in most disciplines basked in glory with relative ease. One, however did not get to see extraordinary or record shattering performances. As predicted India dominated the proceedings, grabbing the bulk of medals at stake. Sri Lanka dished out a strong performance in track and field to cease India's sweep of medals. Their women in particular walked away with a bagful of gold medals. Likewise, there were a number of creditable performances from Pakistan in weightlifting and wrestling. 

Heart warming it was to see athletes from  the war torn Afghanistan who put in a brave face. The dramatic leap Sri Lankan women athletes have taken over the years makes them a force to reckon with not only in the region but in the Asian continent as well. Should their progression continue at the current pace they are bound to make their presence felt on the international front  as well. Nepal's outing was a total disaster from all aspects be it performance or medal tally. Apparently, one of the most dismal and unproductive SAFG for the country. 

Thanks largely, to our martial artists who collected a handful of medals spared us the blushes. Honestly speaking, throughout the competition our athletes were a struggling pack and played a second fiddle to opponents. We received the biggest jolt in football much to everyone's chagrin. Judging by the team's early exit it was a very ordinary showing. Leave alone making it to the last four we were held to a draw by the vastly improved Bhutanese outfit who entered the semifinals. There is no room for excuses for our debacle because the team failed to rise to the occasion and performed erratically. Do not be taken aback should Bhutan overtake us in football in the coming years. I would not be. 

Despite a spurt of activities on the domestic front and implementation of so called developmental programs by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) we have failed to make any significant headway. Instead we continue to take tumble one after another, thus exposing ourselves further. We have miserably failed in football since our 1993 SAFG gold winning feat in Dacca, Bangladesh. 

Boxing is another discipline in which our pugilists have not lived to their expectations. Going by our latest international results it must be admitted that we are no more a force to be reckoned with in the region. Our mediocre performance at the recent SAFG shows where we stand in boxing today. The same apply to long distance running, specially marathon. Hard to believe that we are not able to produce high caliber runners despite the wealth of talents we have at our disposal. 

Weightlifting is one such sport we always pin our hopes for medals. Since the inception of the SAFG our lifters have won scores of medals. Sadly, the flow of medals is gradually drying up as we saw recently in Pakistan. Putting the blame squarely on athletes for our dismal showing is unfair.  As a matter of fact, our athletes have fallen victims to the jaundiced system run by a bunch of irresponsible bureaucrats. Those who have followed or are following Nepali sports, over the years, comprehends the reasons behind our failure. Inadequate and poor preparation is one of the many factors for our pathetic showing.  

Above all  it is our sport system riddled with flaws and fissures that is in need of immediate attention and correction. So far the government has turned a blind eye and done nothing to revamp or restructure the system, thus putting athletes career at stake further.

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