India hosted the first modern Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951.
The inaugural Asian Games took place from 4 to 11 March 1951 in New Delhi, India. Athletes from 11 national Olympic committees competed in six sports: athletics, aquatics, basketball, cycling, football and weightlifting. The event was originally scheduled for 1950 but was postponed to 1951.
The Games were organised under the authority of the Asian Games Federation, which was later replaced by the Olympic Council of Asia. New Delhi’s National Stadium served as the principal venue. India finished second in the medal table behind Japan, while Japan won the most gold medals.
The Asian Games grew into the continent’s major multi-sport event. Later editions expanded dramatically in both the number of sports and participating delegations. The event is sometimes called the Asiad, although “Asian Games” is the official name. The 1951 edition should not be confused with the 1949 Asian Games Federation meeting, which helped establish the competition’s organisational framework.