SAG duration increased by a day, to be held from Feb 5-16

The duration of the upcoming 12th South Asian Games to be held in Guwahati and Shillong has been increased by one day and they will begin from February 5 next year instead of February 6 as the organisers re-jigged the competition schedule.
The Games, which will have 23 disciplines, were earlier scheduled to be held from February 6-16 but now they will run from February 5-16.
Indian Olympic Association Secretary General Rajiv Mehta confirmed the development.
"It will need more time to complete the Games. So, the Games will now be held from February 5-16," Mehta told PTI.
According to the competition schedule released by the organisers, the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will be held at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium, Sarusajai in Guwahati on February 5 and 16 respectively.

Interestingly, Shillong, which is hosting seven disciplines and women's football, will also have an opening ceremony according to the competition schedule.

The opening day on February 5 will also see the beginning of men's football and volleyball events in Guwahati.
Shillong will host archery, badminton, boxing, judo, table tennis, taekwondo and wushu, besides women's football. There were reports that the Badminton Association of India wants to shift badminton matches to Guwahati instead of Shillong due to poor facilities in the Meghalaya capital.
Guwahati will host the remaining 16 of the 23 disciplines -- athletics, basketball, cycling, handball, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, shooting, squash, swimming, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling, besides men's football.

Reports also said that the respective National Sports Federations of hockey and shooting have expressed reservations to the facilities in Guwahati.