SA GAMES: We are only 25 days away from the commencement of the 10th South Asian Games, to be hosted by Sri Lanka. The eight-nation South Asian Olympic extravaganza 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.

The 10th edition of the South Asian Games will be the biggest ever sporting event in the subcontinent with over 2,000 participants from eight countries making their presence.

Hosts Sri Lanka is expected to field the largest contingent of around 300 members while India will also field an equally strong contingent.

India, which has been dominating ever since the 1984 inaugural Games, is expected to maintain its regional sporting supremacy.

Only instance that a country winning gold medals close to the table leaders India was in 1991 when Sri Lanka hosted the Vth edition of the Games.

Sri Lanka won a record 44 gold medals at the Colombo 1991 SA Games. It was the highest number of gold medals won by a single country at any Games, other than leaders India.

Hence, many expects Sri Lanka for a repeat performance. However, it will be a tough task for the host nation to emulate that feat as we can not expect the same number of gold medals that we won in athletics (15) and swimming (12) at the 1991 Games.

Going back to our segment of the SA Games history that we have been discussing in this countdown series, we will have a look at the second SA Games.

Despite missing the golden opportunity of becoming the first ever hosts, Bangladesh staged the second SAF Games from December 20 to 26, 1985 with seven disciplines. Apart from the five sports that were included in the inaugural Games' proper, Wrestling and Kabaddi were added to the Dhaka Games.

Once again, India finished way ahead of the rest, by accounting to 61 of the 94 gold medals on offer. They retained the 22 weightlifting gold medals they won in 1984 and added 18 athletic golds.

Indian Tara Singh was the king of long distance running, pocketing both the men's 5,000m and 10,000m titles. India won both the soccer and Kabaddi gold. Their opponents in both the finals was Bangladesh. India and Pakistan dominated in wrestling and weightlifting events.