New Delhi, Aug. 13 :     India will send a 235-strong contingent, including 75 women, for all 12 disciplines at the eighth South Asian Federation Games (SAF) to be held in Kathmandu from September 25 to October 4. The women will participate in seven disciplines ? athletics, karate-do, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball. The other disciplines at the Games are boxing, football, kabaddi, weightlifting and wrestling. Hockey which was introduced in 1995 has been dropped in this edition of the Games. No official reason was given, but Swimming Federation of India president K. N. Kapur, who is also the Chef-de- Mission of the Games contingent, said that much delayed efforts to install an astroturf led to hockey being omitted. However, Padam Shrestha, director of the SAF Games in Nepal, stated that since hockey was not a popular sport in Nepal it was dropped because the expenses for a hockey stadium and turf are exorbitant. In the 1995 SAF Games in Chennai, India had won in grand style, trouncing Pakistan 5-2. While the team will be fortified with the presence of athletes like Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Asian Games multiple gold medallist, another gold medallist, boxer Dingko Singh is doubtful because his wrist injury needs more time to heal. Rajesh Bhandari, secretary of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation said Dingko will undergo a medical examination next week before a final decision is taken. The Indian Olympic Association has till August 25 to announce the names in the Indian contingent. Kapur said that the national sports federations have been asked to submit their lists by Monday. Interestingly the All India Football Federation?s (AIFF) camp for the Games starts in Bangalore September 5. The Monday date is considered doubtful, as many federations are yet to start their preparatory camps. AIFF secretary Kedar Nath Mour will be deputy Chef-de-Mission.