Pakistan Army walked into Thursday’s slate with momentum and walked out with a medal mountain that shifted the entire picture of the 35th National Games. Their athletes looked sharp across arenas, from tracks to swimming lanes to the noisier team events. Every finish seemed to add weight to their growing command of the standings, and by nightfall, it showed. According to the updated table released on December 11, Army climbed to 144 gold, 72 silver, and 42 bronze, placing them miles ahead of the pack.

The energy inside Karachi’s venues reflected the stakes. Each Army victory landed with a roar, and you could sense how every podium moment added pressure on the other departments. WAPDA, sitting second, kept their chase alive with 61 gold, 52 silver, and 56 bronze. Navy followed with 28 gold, 30 silver, and 23 bronze. None of them folded, yet the gap grew all the same.

Swimming Sparks The Day’s Biggest Leap

Army’s women riders in the pool brought real force. Olympian Jehanara Nabi, who had already turned heads this week, delivered again, stacking up medals that pushed her department well beyond reach in the discipline. She picked up multiple individual titles and linked perfectly with her relay squads. It was the kind of run that stuns rivals and rallies teammates.

Their control of women’s swimming summed up the day’s storyline. Army ended the discipline far clear of Sindh, where they gathered four gold. These numbers told only half the tale. The crowd response filled in the rest. Every time Jehanara hit the wall first, fans rose with a mix of delight and disbelief. It gave the arena a pulse that lingered long after the races wrapped.

Sindh showed grit throughout the program and refused to drift out of contention. Their jump to 76 total medals placed them right behind Punjab among provinces. Punjab, meanwhile, pushed to 84 overall, driven by lively performances in martial arts and racket sports. They remain the most consistent provincial unit, and their athletes carried that reputation into another long day of competition.

Provincial Race Tightens Yet Army Stay In Their Own Lane

Beyond the department giants, the provincial battle carved out its own subplot. Punjab held on to the lead with 10 gold and a solid spread of silver and bronze. Sindh, the hosts, had the crowd behind them and used that noise well. Their sprinters, lifters, and team squads fought hard for every podium, and their total of 76 medals showed the payoff.

Further down, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan nudged ahead in pockets of competition. Islamabad picked up crucial silver finishes. Even the smaller contingents like Gilgit Baltistan and AJK found moments to celebrate, which kept the spirit of the Games intact. What the table really showed was a competitive middle section. Anyone watching from afar could tell how closely these provinces measured themselves against one another.

Still, the top of the list painted a different story. Army’s dominance created a pace that others matched only in short bursts. When the scoreboard rolled to 920 total medals across all teams, the imbalance became clear. The Army was in their own lane, WAPDA fought tirelessly to stay relevant, and the Navy kept searching for another spark.

Countdown To The Closing Ceremony Intensifies Atmosphere

With the Games set to conclude on December 13, tension has started to colour every contest. Karachi’s venues have grown louder by the hour, and athletes feel the edge of the deadline. The closing ceremony at National Bank Stadium is expected to feature Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, a detail that has raised anticipation among participants.

As the final weekend approaches, the question shifts from who will win to how wide the winning margin will be. The numbers keep climbing, the cheers echo longer, and Karachi continues to stage a multi-sport show that refuses to slow down.