Financial constraints forced Pakistan to slash its 2018 Asian Games delegation by over a third.
In short: When Pakistan prepared for the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, the original plan included 397 athletes and officials. However, budget limitations forced a significant reduction. By the time the games began on 18 August, the final contingent had been trimmed to 256 athletes and 96 officials.
The 2018 Asian Games, held in Indonesia from 18 August to 2 September, saw Pakistan participate across 35 different sports. The process of assembling this team was marked by significant volatility, as the Pakistan Sports Board mandated cuts to various federations. These financial constraints meant that many athletes who had initially been selected for the national squad were ultimately left behind.
Specific sports saw dramatic shifts in their representation due to these directives. For example, the Pakistan Archery Federation initially prepared ten athletes for the games. By 12 July 2018, they had narrowed this to six, but following the final cuts mandated by the Pakistan Sports Board on 27 July, only two archers were sent. Similarly, the Judo Federation saw its planned squad of seven athletes reduced to just two men. Other sports faced different challenges; for instance, the wrestling team was reduced to four members after Commonwealth gold medallist Muhammad Inam withdrew due to a knee injury.
Despite the downsizing, the Pakistani contingent remained diverse, spanning traditional sports and emerging categories. The team included participants in athletics, badminton, boxing, bridge, fencing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, karate, rugby sevens, squash, taekwondo, volleyball, and weightlifting. Notably, the games featured the first-ever participation of a Pakistan sepak takraw team. Additionally, Pakistan competed in the League of Legends tournament, which was included as an eSports demonstration event, qualifying through a South Asian regional qualifier with a six-man squad coached by Hassan Abdullah.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Pakistan at the 2018 Asian Games
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