| XIII South Asian Games | |
| Host City: | Kathmandu, Pokhara & Janakpur |
| Country: | Nepal |
| Nations: | 7 |
| Athletes: | 2715 |
| Events: | 317 in 26 sports |
| Opening: | 1 December |
| Closing: | 10 December |
| Opened By: | Bidhya Devi Bhandari [1] |
| Athlete Oath: | Paras Khadka (cricket)[2] |
| Judge Oath: | Deepak Thapa (badminton) |
| Torch Lighter: | Deepak Bista[3] |
| Stadium: | Dasarath Rangasala Stadium |
| Previous: | 2016 Guwahati-Shillong |
The 2019 South Asian Games, officially the XIII South Asian Games, was a major multi-sport event which was originally slated to be held from 9 to 18 March 2019 in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal.[4] However, the dates were postponed and the event was held from 1–10 December 2019, coincidentally at the same time as the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.[5] [6] The new dates were confirmed at the South Asian Olympic Council Executive Board meeting in Bangkok on 1 March 2019. The Dasarath Stadium hosted the opening ceremony along with the men's football tournament, with the stadium's renovation after the 2015 earthquake completed in under 10 months with an increased capacity of 20,000,[7] [8] along with the closing ceremony on 10 December.
Three different cities in Nepal hosted the competition: Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur.[4]
| Venue | Sport(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dasarath Stadium | Athletics Football (men) | |
| International Sports Complex, Satdobato | Boxing Karate Shooting Squash Swimming Taekwondo Tennis | |
| Covered Hall, Tripureshwor | Basketball Volleyball | |
| TU Cricket Ground | Cricket (men) | |
| Sahid Park, Gokarna | Cycling (mountain biking) | |
| Ring Road | Cycling (road) | |
| Covered Hall, Naya Bazar, Kirtipur | Fencing Kho-kho | |
| Gokarna Forest Resort | Golf | |
| Army Physical Fitness Centre, Lagankhel | Judo Wushu | |
| APF Hall, Halchowk | Kabaddi | |
| Table Tennis Hall, Lainchaur | Table Tennis |
| Venue | Sport(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Badminton | ||
| Pokhara Cricket Ground | Cricket (women) | |
| Pokhara Stadium | Archery Football (women) | |
| Handball | ||
| Basundhara Park | Triathlon | |
| Phewa Lake[9] | Beach volleyball | |
| Matepani | Weightlifting |
On 13 May 2019, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Nepal unveiled the logo and mascot of the 13th South Asian Games. The ministry along with the Nepal Olympic Committee revealed a pair of blackbucks (Krishnashar) as the official mascot for the 2019 South Asian Games. Blackbucks are the only extant member of the genus Antelope and mostly found in the southern region of Nepal and is an endangered species with in Nepal.[10] [1]
The committee also revealed the official logo of the Games, a flying pigeon that embodies the vibrant colour of the logo of South Asia Olympic Council. It also includes world heritage sites and mountains of Nepal in the background.[10]
Seven countries competed. For the first time since 1999, Afghanistan did not compete at the South Asian Games, after leaving the South Asia Olympic Council in 2016. A total of 2,715 athletes competed.
These Games featured 26 sports[11] with cricket returning after 8 years.[12] Golf and karate were the two sports added by the hosts as their choice.[12] All events must include a minimum of four participating teams otherwise it will not be held. Paragliding, which was scheduled to debut, was removed, as only two nations (Nepal and Pakistan) had registered competitors.[13]
As of 13 July 2021 (After the Doping Results)
Organizer of 2019 South Asian Games, Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC), sold the broadcast rights to A company, NK Media Ventures Pvt Ltd who ensured that the event will be available live in more than 15 channels across South Asia. In Nepal, following channel purchased broadcasting rights from NK Media Ventures.[20]
150 random athletes participating in SAG 2019 were tested for Prohibited substances and the test samples were sent to WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency)- accredited laboratory in Qatar by SAG Anti Doping Organizing Committee. 3 Athletes had failed the Doping Test. They appealed against the result of the test ; they were given another chance to get a fair test and were called off with B-samples. The test held in the same laboratory and they had failed the test again. They were banned for four years until 2 December 2023.[21] [22] [23]
"As per the international norms of athletics, the trio will be stripped of their medals and the athletes finishing just behind them will be given their medals," said RK Bista, International Technical Officers of Athletes.[24]
| Mehboob Ali | Pakistan | Athletics | Anabolic Androgenic Steroids | (Men's 400 m Hurdles) | Jabir Madari Pa |
| (Men's 4×400 m Relay) | MD Abu Taleb MD Masud Rana MD Saiful Ismail MD Jahir | ||||
| Muhammad Naeem | Pakistan | Athletics | Anabolic Androgenic Steroids | (Men's 110 m Hurdles) | Surendhar Jayak |
| Sami Ullah | Pakistan | Athletics | Anabolic Androgenic Steroids | (Men's 100 m Sprint) | Uzair Rehman |
| (Men's 4×100 m Relay) | Abdur Rouf MD Ismail Shariful MD Hasan |