35th National Games plunge into chaos as brawls erupt in Karachi

KARACHI: The ongoing 35th National Games in Karachi were thrown into disorder after multiple brawls broke out across different events, raising serious concerns over player discipline and event management.

The hockey semifinal between WAPDA and Navy turned ugly moments after Navy’s 3–2 victory. Post-match celebrations quickly escalated into a heated exchange, leading to pushing, shoving and an all-out scuffle between players. Match officials struggled to restore order as the confrontation intensified.

This was not the only violent incident reported. Earlier, the women’s netball semifinal between Army and Sindh saw tensions boil over when a verbal exchange between players turned physical. In another incident, the men’s football semifinal ended in chaos after Army edged WAPDA 4–3, triggering a post-match fight involving members of both teams.

The recurring clashes have sparked criticism from spectators, with many taking to social media to condemn the conduct of the players and the management’s inability to prevent such incidents. One user commented, “Pathetic people. No discipline. ‘Jungalee’.”

The 35th National Games, which began on December 6 and run until December 13, feature 32 disciplines across more than 20 venues throughout Karachi.