11th South Asian Games concludes in Bangladesh

11th South Asian Games concludes in Bangladesh

DHAKA, Feb. 9 -- The 11th South Asian Games conlcuded in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Tuesday, with India on top of the medal list.

Indigenous performers dance during the closing ceremony of the 11th South Asian Games in the national stadium in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on Feb. 9, 2010. Around 2,800 players from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka competed in 23 games events of the "Olympic of South Asia". India, Pakistan and Bangladesh ended as the top three among the eight nations in the medal tally.

India won 90 out of the 157 gold medals. Pakistan finished second on the medal tally with 19 golds while host Bangladesh grabbed 18. Sri Lanka won 16 while Nepal and Afghanistan both earned 7 golds. Bhutan and Maldives didn't won any gold medal.

At the closing ceremony held on Tuesday afternoon in Dhaka Bangabandhu National Stadium, General Abdul Mobin, Bangladesh Olympic Association President, handed over the South Asian Games flame to Suresh Kalmadi, president of Olympic Association of India, the next host country of the games.

Bangladeshi President Zillur Rahman said at the closing ceremony he believed the South Asian Games created an opportunity for more closer relations among the people of the region and deepened their fraternity.

The 11th South Asian Games opened in Dhaka on Jan. 29. Around 2000 players from 8 South Asian countries and regions competed in 23 games.

The first South Asian Games was held in Nepal's capital Kathmandu with only 5 games.

It is the third time for Bangladesh to host South Asian Games after staging the second and the 6th edition in 1985 and 1993 respectively.

Laser and aquatic show are displayed during the closing ceremony of the 11th South Asian Games in the national stadium in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on Feb. 9, 2010.

Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony of the 11th South Asian Games in the national stadium in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on Feb. 9, 2010.
(Xinhua)