The 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi were the inaugural edition of the continent-wide multi-sport competition, establishing a quadrennial tradition among Asian nations.
Key Facts
- Dates
- 4 to 11 March 1951
- Participating nations (NOCs)
- 11
- Athletes
- 489
- Events
- 57 events across 8 sports
- Top gold medal nation
- Japan (24 gold, 21 silver, 15 bronze)
- Host nation India medal rank
- 2nd (15 gold, 51 total medals)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The dissolution of predecessor competitions—the Far Eastern Games and the Western Asiatic Games—left Asian nations without a unified multi-sport event. Following the establishment of the Asian Games Federation in Delhi on 13 February 1949, Delhi was unanimously chosen as host city. Preparations delayed the originally planned 1950 date, pushing the inaugural edition to 1951.
The First Asian Games were held in New Delhi, India from 4 to 11 March 1951. A total of 489 athletes from 11 Asian National Olympic Committees competed across 57 events in eight sports at National Stadium. Nearly all independent Asian nations of the era participated, with the Soviet Union and Vietnam absent due to political considerations.
Japan topped the medal table with 24 gold medals, while host India finished second with 15 golds and 51 total medals. The Games established the Asian Games as a recurring quadrennial event under the Asian Games Federation. India would not host again for 31 years, until the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
Result
at National Stadium, New Delhi