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India Hosted First Asian Games in 1951: A Look Back at the Inaugural Event
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News18•02-10-2026, 17:30
India Hosted First Asian Games in 1951: A Look Back at the Inaugural Event
- •India hosted the first Asian Games in New Delhi from March 4 to March 11, 1951, with most competitions held at the National Stadium (formerly Irwin Amphitheatre).
- •Eleven countries participated in the inaugural event, including Afghanistan, Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, with 489 athletes.
- •The first Asian Games featured six sports: Athletics, Aquatics, Basketball, Cycling, Football, and Weightlifting.
- •Organized under the Asian Games Federation (now the Olympic Council of Asia), Japan topped the medal table, followed by India and Iran.
- •India has hosted the Asian Games twice, first in 1951 and again in 1982.
Key Questions Answered
India hosted the first Asian Games in New Delhi from March 4 to March 11, 1951.
Japan finished at the top of the medal table at the first Asian Games in 1951, with India finishing second and Iran placing third.
India has hosted the Asian Games twice, first in New Delhi in 1951 and a second time in 1982.
