Islamabad: The three-day Executive Council meeting of the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF) began on Thursday in the absence of the Indian delegation, fuelling speculation about India's participation in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games scheduled in this city later this year.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi, who was to lead the Indian contingent at the meeting being held in Rawalpindi, informed his Pakistani counterpart on Wednesday night that he would not be able to attend because of flight disruptions.

But IOA would abide by the "collective decisions" taken at the meeting, he said. In a fax message, Kalmadi said "In view of foggy conditions and delayed flights, it is not possible for the Indian delegation to reach Islamabad in time to attend the 28th SASF Executive Council on January 9.

"The decisions taken in the meeting collectively will be acceptable to this NOC (National Olympic Committee)." Officials from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and hosts Pakistan attended the meeting which on Thursday decided to go ahead with the Games as scheduled from March 29 to April 8 this year.

SAF officials here said the decision by Kalmadi to cancel his trip at the last minute had caused deep disappointment. However, the communication that India would abide by decisions taken at the meeting was encouraging, they said.

Kalmadi's arrival was awaited with sense of anticipation as he was expected to make categorical statement about India's participation in the Games which were postponed twice last year due to security reasons.

PTI