Cricket, chess may be included in 2006 Asiad

Cricket and chess are likely to be included in the 15th Asian Games, scheduled for December 1 to 15, 2006 at Doha, Qatar, according to the B...

Cricket and chess are likely to be included in the 15th Asian Games, scheduled for December 1 to 15, 2006 at Doha, Qatar, according to the Board of Asian Games Organising Committee.

Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar, chairman of the Board, said here today the Doha Games will host 33 events with cricket and chess likely to be included.

He said cricket was popular amongst Indian, Pakistani and Lankan expatriates and sanction was being sought from the Olympic Council of Asia for including these disciplines.

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As for chess, Thani said Qatar players are good in chess and “we would like to include the elite game of 64 squares in the games”.

Al Thani said 30 of the 44 venues were ready and the rest of the venues would be ready a year before the Games.

He also said more female atheletes would be included in the national contingent when it competes in the next Asiad.

“It’s a great step to see our females participating in our first Asian Games,” Al Thani, who is also President of the National Olympic Committee said.

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The Islamic nation has sent 228 athelets to the Busan Games, including eight women — one archer and seven shooters. Though some Islamic nations have put restrictions on women participating in international sports, he said there will not be any restrictive dress codes for women in Doha.

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