SAG concludes today

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 15: As the curtains close on the biggest intertiol sporting extravaganza of the 12th South Asian Games 2016, the hosts states Assam and Meghalaya are ready to give the athletes and delegates a fitting farewell.

The closing ceremony, which is to take place tomorrow at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sarusajai will be a grand celebration of South Asian Unity, Sportsmanship and a preview to what awaits the contingents in the next host country- Nepal.

Like the iugural day, a few cultural functions will also be held tomorrow to mark the closing function. Popular singer from Guwahati and Bollywood are expected to enthrall the crowd in that function.

It was the first occasions when such a big level intertiol sports meet were held in the North East. Guwahati and Shilling was the joint host of the Games where around 3500 players and officials took part in 12-day extravaganza.

Although organizers were tight lipped regarding the schedule of the closing function but it expected that the event will be little low profile in comparison to the iugural function. The event will kick off at 5 in the evening and continue little more than two hours. The performers list included Bollywood singer Shaan and two popular singers of Assam-Priyanka Bharali, Sangita Kakoti and Lou Majaw.  Apart from that different rock groups of the North East which included “Lou Majaw and friends” and music director Mayukh Hazarika’s band “The Brahmaputra Balladeers” will also perform in the function.

Taliking to the The Sentinel a source from the organizing committee said,“ This time we have kept the programme little low profile than the iugural function. However still I can assure you that crowed will like it very much. A special songs, which will be performed by Sangita Kakoti, is prepared to say good by to all the athletes and the officials of different participating team. The interesting point of the song is that language of all eight participating countries has been included in it along with assamese.”

When asked about the VIP’s who are likely to be present in the closing function the source said,“ Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Sports Minister Sarbanda  Sonowal will present in the stadium tomorrow. Several Union Minister and the members of the state cabinet are also expected to grace the occasions.

Meanwhile, Sports Minister of Nepal Satya rayan Mandal will attend the closing function tomorrow and will receive the flag of South Asian Sports Council (SASC) on behalf of his country. It may be mentioned here that Nepal will host the next edition of the Games in 2018.