The Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) has officially announced the schedule for the 35th National Games, set to take place from December 4 to December 13, with the opening and closing ceremonies featuring the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan respectively.
Over 11,000 athletes and officials from various provinces and departments will participate, including 4,663 registered athletes—2,566 men and 2,097 women—across multiple sports disciplines. Teams are expected to arrive from December 4, with competitions starting the same day. Renowned singer Hadiqa Kiani will perform at the opening ceremony.
However, the cycling event has been excluded from this year’s Games for the first time in history. Officials claim the exclusion stems from internal disputes between two national cycling federations. One federation, led by Khawaja Idris, is preferred by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) but is not affiliated with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) or any international body. The other federation, headed by Azhar Shah, is globally recognized and represents Pakistan internationally, including holding multiple world records in 2024.
Cyclists and associations loyal to Azhar Shah criticized the decision, saying it undermines the sport and ignores the federation’s contributions to cycling development in Sindh throughout the year.
The announcement highlights the growing challenges of sports governance in Pakistan, where administrative preferences can significantly affect athletes and competitions.
