Asian Games
- The first Asian Games began on March 4, 1951 in New Delhi.
- The Asian Games Association has choosen shining sun as its symbol.
- The AGF(Asian Games Federation) adopted 'Ever Onward', given by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, as the motto of the Asian Games.
- The emblem of Asian Games is a 'bright full rising sun' with interlocking rings.
- The Maharaja of Patiala presented the Torch and the flag for the first Asian Games and since then they have been carried from country to country.
History: The idea of the Asian Games was first conceived by Prof. G.D. Sondhi. The suggestion for holding the Asian Games was first made in a conference of Asian Countries held in New Delhi in 1947 and Jawaharlal Nehru suggested that it be called Asian Games.
Background: First held as West Asian Games at New Delhi in 1934 in which India, Afghanistan, Palestine and Sri Lanka participated. In view of the enthusiasm it was decided to hold these games once in four years at mid-point between the Olympics. However, these games were abandoned during World War II.
It was Prof. Gurudutt Sondhi, a member of the IOC who encouraged by the sport-lover Maharaja Yadvendra Singh of Patiala and supported by Pandit Nehru, tried to revive these games at the Asian Relations Conference (ARC) convened by Pt Nehru at New Delhi in 1947. The Asian Athletic Federation (AAF) was formed in 1948 which decided to hold the first Athletic Championship at New Delhi in 1949. However, the plan did not materialise.
Again in February 1949, the AAF met at New Delhi where it was renamed as "Asian Games Federation" (AGF). The AGF then decided to rename the Asian Atheletic Championship as "Asiatic Games". Subsequently Pt Nehru suggested that these games be called "Asian Games." The first President and Secretary of AGF were Maharaja Yadvendra Singh of Patiala and Prof. G.D. Sondhi respectively.
Motto, Emblem and Torch of Asian Games
The AGF adopted 'Ever Onward' given by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru at the motto of the Asian Games. The Emblem is a bright full rising sun with interlocking rings. The Maharaja of Patiala (Yadvendra Singh) presented a Torch and a flag for the first Asian Games and since then they have been carried from country to country.
Pt Jawaharlal Nehru's Message to the Participants of the First Asian Games "Play the game in the spirit of the game."
Asian Games since 1951
| Games Serial | Year | Places | Number of Countries | Number of Sports | Number of Players |
| 1 | 1951 | New Delhi(India) | 11 | 6 | 491 |
| 2 | 1954 | Manila(Philippines) | 18 | 8 | 1021 |
| 3 | 1958 | Tokyo(Japan) | 20 | 13 | 1422 |
| 4 | 1962 | Jakarta(Indonesia) | 16 | 13 | 1545 |
| 5 | 1966 | Bangkok(Thiland) | 18 | 14 | 1945 |
| 6 | 1970 | Bangkon(Thiland) | 18 | 13 | 1752 |
| 7 | 1974 | Tehran(Iran) | 25 | 16 | 2869 |
| 8 | 1978 | Bangkok(Thiland) | 25 | 19 | 3000 |
| 9 | 1982 | New Delhi(India) | 33 | 21 | 3447 |
| 10 | 1986 | Seoul(S.Korea) | 27 | 25 | 3883 |
| 11 | 1990 | Beijing(China) | 37 | 27 | 4500 |
| 12 | 1994 | Hiroshima(Japan) | 42 | 34 | 7300 |
| 13 | 1998 | Bangkok(Thailand) | 41 | 38 | 7000 |
| 14 | 2002 | Busan(S.Korea) | 44 | 38 | 9919 |
| 15 | 2006 | Doha(Qatar) | 45 | 39 | 10000+ |
| 16 | 2011 | Guangzhou(China) | 45 | 42 | 9704 |
- 16th(2010) Asian Games will be held in Guang Zhou, China.
- In the 16th Asian Games Twenty-20 Cricket will be included.
- Dance sport, Dragon boat, Roller sport and Weiqui (a form of chess) will be other new entrants into the 16th Asian Games.
- 17th(2014) Asian Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea.
Position of India in Asian Games Medal Tally
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Position |
| 1951 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 54 | 2nd |
| 1954 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 5th |
| 1958 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 7th |
| 1962 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 34 | 3rd |
| 1966 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 5th |
| 1970 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 25 | 5th |
| 1974 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 28 | 7th |
| 1978 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 28 | 5th |
| 1982 | 13 | 19 | 25 | 57 | 5th |
| 1986 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 37 | 5th |
| 1990 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 23 | 11th |
| 1994 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 8th |
| 1998 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 35 | 9th |
| 2002 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 36 | 8th |
| 2006 | 10 | 18 | 26 | 54 | 8th |
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