Pakistan to Host 2028 South Asian Cross-Country Athletics Championship
Slug: pakistan-host-2028-south-asian-cross-country-championship
Category: Sports
Focus keyphrase: South Asian Cross-Country Championship 2028
SEO title: Pakistan to Host 2028 South Asian Cross-Country Championship
Meta description: Pakistan will host the 2028 South Asian Cross-Country Championship while India stages the 2027 U-23 event, the athletics body announced.
Tags: Athletics Federation of Pakistan, South Asian Athletics Federation, cross-country athletics, Akram Sahi, Pakistan sports, South Asia, athletics
Source: Dawn (https://www.dawn.com/news/2037519), published 16 October 2026, ~07:43 PKT
Original element: verified prior-coverage data point (Pakistan’s earlier hosting of this championship) plus explainer context on cross-country athletics — both from corroborated public reports, no invented facts
Pakistan to Host 2028 South Asian Cross-Country Championship
Pakistan will host the South Asian Cross-Country Athletics Championship in 2028. The decision came at a virtual meeting of the South Asian Athletics Federation on Wednesday, where officials from all seven member countries took part.
The same meeting awarded the 2027 U-23 South Asian Athletics Championship to India. The two events were assigned together as the regional body set its calendar for the coming years.
What the Federation Decided
The meeting took place over Zoom, according to a spokesman of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP). Officials from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives attended.
The officials hailed the services of retired Maj Gen Akram Sahi, the Pakistani chairman of the South Asian Athletics Federation, for promoting athletics across the region. They also praised the performances of Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan athletes at the Olympics — with seven countries, including India, bidding to host the 2036 Games — and Asian events, the AFP spokesman said.
Pakistan’s athletes have given the country reasons to celebrate in recent years. Arshad Nadeem’s Olympic javelin gold remains the standout achievement in Pakistani athletics, while Pakistan also won medals at the recent Asian Games, including volleyball bronze and a shooting bronze that earned Ghulam Mustafa Bashir a hero’s welcome in Karachi.
What Cross-Country Athletics Is
Cross-country running is a long-distance discipline in which athletes compete over natural terrain rather than on a track. Courses vary in surface and elevation, with grass, dirt, gravel, hills and woodland sections all common.
As reports on earlier regional editions explained, runners are scored on both individual performance and team results, which makes cross-country a test of squad depth as well as individual endurance.
The format suits the region. South Asian runners have long competed in endurance events, and a cross-country championship gives the region’s distance runners a dedicated platform outside the track season.
Pakistan’s Hosting Record
Pakistan is no stranger to hosting this championship. The country staged the South Asian Cross Country Athletics Championship for the first time in Islamabad, with athletes from seven nations competing. The AFP confirmed government clearance for all participating teams, including India’s, with the Pakistan Sports Board issuing the required no objection certificate.
The 2028 event will add to a growing list of regional competitions coming to Pakistan. Geo News reported on September 5 that Pakistan is set to host the South Asian Games as well, with the event scheduled from April 4 to 11 and more than 6,000 athletes expected across 28 sports.
For the athletics federation, the decision confirms Pakistan’s standing in the regional body. A Pakistani officer, retired Maj Gen Akram Sahi, chairs the South Asian Athletics Federation, and the member countries chose Pakistan for the cross-country event under his chairmanship.
Pakistan’s wider sporting picture is moving in the same direction. The country has hosted international cricket, squash and hockey events in recent years, and regional bodies are once again willing to bring their flagship championships here.
FAQ
When will Pakistan host the South Asian Cross-Country Athletics Championship?
The South Asian Athletics Federation has awarded the 2028 edition of the championship to Pakistan. The venue and dates will be announced closer to the event.
Which country will host the 2027 U-23 South Asian Athletics Championship?
India will host the 2027 U-23 South Asian Athletics Championship. The decision was taken at the same virtual federation meeting that assigned the 2028 cross-country event to Pakistan.
Which countries take part in the South Asian Cross-Country Athletics Championship?
Seven member countries of the South Asian Athletics Federation take part: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. All seven attended the meeting where the 2028 hosting decision was made.
Who leads the South Asian Athletics Federation?
Retired Maj Gen Akram Sahi of Pakistan is the chairman of the South Asian Athletics Federation. The federation’s member countries hailed his services for promoting athletics in the region at the meeting.
—
Outbound links: Dawn source story · Geo News on Pakistan hosting the South Asian Games
