Asian Games & Commonwealth Games
The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games represent the two largest continental and multi-national sporting events after the Olympics. The inaugural Asian Games took place in New Delhi in 1951 under the motto 'Ever Onward', organized under the leadership of Guru Dutt Sondhi and Maharaja Yadvindra Singh. China has dominated the Asian Games medal table continuously since the 1982 New Delhi Games. The Commonwealth Games, originally staged in 1930 as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, bring together Commonwealth nations every four years. Australia leads the all-time Commonwealth Games medal standings. India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where Milkha Singh in 1958 Cardiff had previously won India's maiden individual gold medal in the 440-yard sprint.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- The first Asian Games were held in New Delhi, India, in 1951, inaugurated by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
- China has topped the overall medal tally in every Asian Games edition since the 1982 Games in New Delhi.
- The Commonwealth Games debuted in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1930 as the British Empire Games.
- Milkha Singh won India's first individual Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 440-yard race at Cardiff 1958.
- Australia ranks first in all-time total medal counts in Commonwealth Games history.
- India hosted the Asian Games twice in New Delhi, first in 1951 and subsequently in 1982 (where the mascot Appu the elephant was introduced).
- India achieved its highest medal tally in Asian Games history at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou (2023), winning 107 medals (28 gold, 38 silver, 41 bronze).
- The Commonwealth Games were hosted by India for the first time in New Delhi in 2010, where India finished second in the medal tally with 101 medals, including 38 golds.
- Kamaljeet Sandhu was the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold medal, winning the 400-meter race at the 1970 Bangkok Games.
- The Olympic Council of India and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), headquartered in Kuwait City, supervise the Asian Games.
- P. T. Usha won four gold medals and one silver medal at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, setting Asian records in the 200m, 400m, and 400m hurdles.
- Sachin Nag won India's first-ever Asian Games gold medal by winning the 100-meter freestyle swimming event at the 1951 New Delhi Games.
- The motto of the Asian Games, 'Ever Onward', was proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru and represented alongside a rising sun emblem with sixteen red rays.
- The 20th Asian Games are scheduled to be hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in 2026.
- Jaspal Rana won four gold medals in shooting at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.
- Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian female wrestler to win a gold medal at both the Asian Games (Jakarta 2018) and the Commonwealth Games (2014, 2018, 2022).
- Neeraj Chopra won consecutive Asian Games gold medals in men's javelin throw at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2023.
- India won its first-ever Asian Games gold medal in equestrian after 41 years at the Hangzhou 2023 Games in the team dressage event.
- The Commonwealth Games are held every four years among members of the Commonwealth of Nations, overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
- The Queen's Baton Relay (now King's Baton Relay) is the traditional curtain-raiser to the Commonwealth Games, carrying a message from the Head of the Commonwealth.
- India finished fourth in the medal tally at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, winning 61 medals (22 gold, 16 silver, 23 bronze).
- Sharath Kamal won four medals (3 gold, 1 silver) in table tennis at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, taking his career CWG medal tally to 13.
- Mirabai Chanu won India's first gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in the women's 49 kg weightlifting event.
- The Indian men's lawn bowls fours team created history by winning India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal (gold) in lawn bowls at Birmingham 2022.
- The 2026 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland, following the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria.
- The first Asian Games were held in New Delhi, India, in March 1951, inaugurated by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad at the National Stadium.
- The Asian Games motto 'Ever Onward' was coined by Jawaharlal Nehru, and the emblem features a bright red sun with 16 rays.
- Japan topped the medal tally at the inaugural 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi, while host India finished second with 15 gold, 16 silver, and 20 bronze medals.
- India hosted the Asian Games for the second time in 1982 in New Delhi, where the mascot was 'Appu', a baby elephant.
- China has topped the overall medal tally at every Asian Games since the 1982 New Delhi Games.
- The 19th Asian Games were held in Hangzhou, China, in September-October 2023 (postponed from 2022 due to COVID-19).
- India achieved its record-breaking highest medal tally at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, winning 107 medals (28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze).
- India's equestrian team won an Asian Games gold medal at Hangzhou 2023 in team dressage after a gap of 41 years (since 1982).
- India's men's and women's kabaddi teams both won gold medals at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
- The Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou saw India record its best-ever performance, winning 111 medals (29 gold, 31 silver, and 51 bronze).
- The Commonwealth Games originated as the British Empire Games, first held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in August 1930.
- The Commonwealth Games were subsequently known as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1954-1966) and British Commonwealth Games (1970-1974) before adopting their present name in 1978.
- Milkha Singh won India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 440 yards race at Cardiff, Wales, in 1958.
- India hosted the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October 2010, featuring the mascot 'Shera' the Royal Bengal Tiger.
- India achieved its best-ever Commonwealth Games performance at the 2010 Delhi Games, finishing second overall with 101 medals (38 gold, 27 silver, 36 bronze).
- The XXII Commonwealth Games were held in Birmingham, England, in July-August 2022, where Australia topped the medal table.
- India won 61 medals (22 gold, 16 silver, 23 bronze) at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, finishing fourth in the medal tally despite the exclusion of shooting.
- Sharath Kamal won four medals (including three gold) in table tennis at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games at the age of 40.
- Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the first gold medal for India at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the women's 49 kg category.
- P.T. Usha won four gold medals and one silver medal in track and field at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, earning the title 'Golden Girl'.
- The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) awards the David Dixon Award to the outstanding athlete of each Commonwealth Games since Manchester 2002.
- Samaresh Jung, Indian pistol shooter, won the prestigious David Dixon Award at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games after winning five gold medals.
- The King's Baton Relay (formerly Queen's Baton Relay) is the Commonwealth Games equivalent of the Olympic Torch Relay, traveling through all 72 Commonwealth nations and territories.
- Australia has hosted the Commonwealth Games a record five times: Sydney (1938), Perth (1962), Brisbane (1982), Melbourne (2006), and Gold Coast (2018).
- The 20th Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in 2026.
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