Pakistan, Oct. 3 -- The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) approved a 53-member contingent for the 3rd Asian Youth Games. The event will be held in Bahrain from October 22 to 31. The approval came after clearances from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination and Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Interior's final clearance is still awaited before departure.

The athletes will compete in eight sports: athletics, badminton, ju-jitsu, kabaddi, swimming, taekwondo, volleyball, and wrestling. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Programme, will lead the team as chef de mission. The selection of athletes was based strictly on merit.

PSB's Director General Yasir Pirzada emphasized ending the practice of self-sponsorship. ...