SA GAMES: Only seven days to go for the South Asian version of Olympics - the 10th South Asian Games, to be hosted by Sri Lanka. The 20-discipline Games will be the biggest ever multi-sport event to be hosted by Sri Lanka. Through this countdown series, the Daily News will have a closer look at the South Asian Games, its history, local preparations and our medal prospects.

With only a week away from the mega event, the South Asian Games fever is gradually hotting the city. The sports loving public are keenly following the progress to the Games and there is a great demand for next Friday's opening ceremony tickets/ passes.

Even those who are not die-hard sports fans have shown a keen interest in finding access to the opening ceremony of the 10th South Asian Games. Generally, the Olympic Games are regarded as once in a life time experience.

But for people in little Indian ocean island of Sri Lanka, it's the South Asian version of the Olympics. Hence, people in the subcontinent feel the South Asian Games too are a rare experience.

Hence, its going to be a jam packed stadium for the mega opening ceremony of the 10th South Asian Games at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The eight-nation Games proper would actually starts on Friday Aug. 18, but the Games soccer tournament preliminary round matches are scheduled commence on Monday Aug.14.

This tournament would be worked off on a semi league basis and the hosts Sri Lanka would be looking forward to its first ever South Asian Games gold medal.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Olympic chief has stressed the importance of improving sports activities among women.

Pakistan Olympic Association president Syed Arif Hassan has told local media there that Pakistan has always had fewer chances of winning medals in the South Asian Games due to less participation by women.

Pakistan's strong 375-member contingent for Colombo SA Games would reach Colombo in two groups on - August 13 and 16.

Pakistan's NOC chief has said India won 103 gold medals against Pakistan's 38 in the last 2004 Islamabad Games due to more participation by women.

Speaking at a news conference, Arif had predicted India and the hosts Sri Lanka to win more medals than Pakistan, but said that would be because of the large number of women competing in various games from those two countries.

The Pakistan Olympic boss said most of their national sports associations have formed women's sections to encourage female participation in their respective sports. This, he said would lead to a greater participation by Pakistan women in future international events.

"Though most of the federations formed the women wings after the deadline of March 31, the POA is now in a better position to improve the standard of women sports," he was quoted as saying.

The Pakistan Sports Trust had granted financial assistance to national associations fielding teams for the Colombo SA Games early this year and Pakistan have made good preparations for the eight-nation Games.

Meanwhile, Pakistan shooters are confident that they could do well in Colombo to match the challenge thrown by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"Our shooters have honed their shooting skills during one and a half month training tour of China under the supervision of Chinese coaches. They are in good shape and should come good in Colombo," the Secretary, National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP), Khalid Javed was quoted as saying.

Pakistan's shooting poolists includes five women who have returned from China recently and re-assembled at a training camp at PN shooting range. The two Chinese coaches who accompanied the shooters to Beijing, are back in Lahore, supervising their training.

The 22-member Pakistan shooting team, which includes seven women, will fly to Colombo on August 16. They will be assisted by the two foreign experts and a Pakistani coach Razi Ahmed Khan.

There will be a total of 26 gold, silvers and bronze medals each would be on offer at the shooting competition of the Colombo SA Games to be worked off at the newly developed international shooting range at the Sri Lanka Navy premises at Welisara.