12th South Asian Games conclude

Guwahati, Feb 24 (ANI): The 12th South Asian games were declared close in a glittering ceremony that saw performances by eight live bands from across the northeastern states. India's regional supremacy went unchallenged as the hosts were crowned overall champions for the 12th consecutive time after notching up a record-breaking haul of 188 gold, 90 silver and 30 bronze medals taking the overall tally to 308. While Sri Lanka with a total of 186 medals came second, Pakistan begged third position with 106 medals. Afghanistan stood at fourth with a medal tally of 35, Bangladesh at fifth with 75 medals, Nepal secured sixth position with 60 medals, Maldives stands at seventh with a medal tally of 3 and Bhutan stands at eighth with a total of 16 medals. Cycling, football, hockey, squash, volleyball were among 23 sport disciplines of which 16 were held in Guwahati and 7 in Shillong. The hosting of the major international sporting event is part of the government's efforts to develop India's northeast region. The two hosting cities Guwahati and Shillong showcased the culture and heritage of northeast India. The mega sports extravaganza will help boost the state's tourism besides pushing infrastructural growth. The objective of decentralizing sports to centres outside the metros is laudable and the effort will boost economic growth and bring prosperity to the region, making India a global destination for sports.