Karachi Hosts 35th National Games After 18 Years

Karachi shook off an 18-year wait on Saturday as the 35th National Games 2025 burst into action, bringing more than 11,000 athletes and officials to the city for Pakistan’s biggest sporting week of the year. The Games run from December 6 to 13, and Karachi feels like it has stepped into a rare, full-scale sporting festival.

City Lights Up as National Stadium Hosts Opening Ceremony

The National Stadium delivered a loud and colourful opening ceremony, with athletes marching in front of packed stands and a crowd that never stopped buzzing. Sindh officials called the moment “long overdue” as the province returned to hosting duties nearly two decades after the last edition.

The ceremony featured a tribute to Pakistan’s sporting icons, a short fireworks show, and a rhythmic display of Sindh’s culture. Athletes soaked in the atmosphere before shifting focus to seven days of tight competition.

Torch Relay Sets the Stage Across Pakistan

The build-up reached its peak when the National Games torch completed its nationwide relay on Saturday morning. It began in Peshawar and passed through Muzaffarabad, Islamabad, Quetta, and Lahore before arriving in Karachi. The relay drew crowds in every city and stitched the narrative of national unity into the start of the Games.

Competitions Begin Across 32 Sports

Karachi’s venues are running at full capacity as events continue across 32 sports, from athletics and hockey to swimming, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, and football. Some contests started as early as December 4 and 5 due to packed schedules, but the main rush began after the opening ceremony.

Athletics and hockey are already drawing the biggest crowds, with early upsets hinting at a chaotic medal table by week’s end. Teams arrived sharper and deeper than in previous editions, and coaches expect close finishes across several sports.

Tight Security and Athlete-Focused Planning

Security teams have sealed major routes around venues, with checkposts placed near training areas and athlete accommodations. Transport units are running almost nonstop, and the special “Pink Bus” service for female athletes earned early praise for its smooth operations.

Officials say the logistical rollout is “the most coordinated in recent editions,” with the Pakistan Olympic Association monitoring each venue’s flow and safety plan.

Fans Follow Live Through tapmad

tapmad is streaming events throughout the week, giving fans an uninterrupted view of the Games. The platform is posting live scores, highlights, and schedules as Karachi prepares for the closing ceremony on December 13.

35th National Games 2025 - Karachi Competition Schedule

S.#	Sport	Venue	Competition Dates (December 2025)
---	Opening Ceremony	National Stadium	Saturday, December 6th
---	Closing Ceremony	National Stadium	Saturday, December 13th
1	Archery	Dow University	Dec 9th, 10th, 11th
2	Athletics	NPT SC Karsaz	Dec 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
3	Badminton	Sports Complex Nazimabad	Dec 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
4	Baseball	NED University	Dec 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
5	Basketball	Habib Public School	Dec 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
6	Bodybuilding	Legal Library / Sindh Youth Centre	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th
7	Boxing	KPT Sports Complex	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
8	Fencing	NED University	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
9	Football	KPT Sports Complex	Dec 5th (Prelim), 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th
10	Golf	DHA Country & Golf Club	Dec 11th, 12th
11	Gymnastics	Govt. College of Physical Education	Dec 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
12	Handball	Mini Sports Complex Nazim Abad	Dec 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
13	Hockey	KHA Hockey Ground	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
14	Judo	Sindh Youth Club	Dec 6th, 7th
15	Kabaddi	NED University	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
16	Karate	PSB Training & Coaching Centre	Dec 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
17	Netball	PSB Training & Coaching Centre	Dec 4th (Prelim), 5th (Prelim), 6th, 7th
18	Rowing	Karachi Boat Club	Dec 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
19	Rugby	Naya Nazimabad Gymkhana	Dec 8th, 9th, 10th
20	Sailing	PN Dockyard	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
21	Shooting	NPT SC Karsaz	Dec 5th (Prelim), 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
22	Softball	KMC Sports Complex	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
23	Squash	PSB Training & Coaching Centre	Dec 5th (Prelim), 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
24	Swimming	PN Swimming Pool	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th
25	Table Tennis	Islamia Club Solider Bazar	Dec 9th, 10th, 11th
26	Taekwondo	Memon Scouts Gymnasium	Dec 9th, 10th, 11th
27	Tennis	Naya Nazimabad Gymkhana	Dec 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
28	Tug of War	PSB Training & Coaching Centre	Dec 8th, 9th, 10th
29	Volleyball	NED University	Dec 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
30	Weightlifting	Scouts Auditorium	Dec 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
31	Wrestling	NIKAP Kiki Sports Complex	Dec 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
32	Wushu	Women Sports Complex Gulshan-e-Iqbal	Dec 9th, 10th, 11th