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The Asian Games, also known as Asiad,[2] is a Pancontinental multisport event held every
four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games
Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the
1982 Games they have been organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), after the
breakup of the Asian Games Federation.[3] The Games are recognized by the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) and are described as the second largest multisport event after the
Olympic Games.[4][5]
In its history, nine nations have hosted the Asian Games. Fortysix nations have participated
in the Games, including Israel, which was excluded from the Games after their last
participation in 1974. The last Games was held in Incheon, South Korea from 19 September
to 4 October 2014.
History
Prior formation
Before the Asian Games were held, a gathering known as the Far Eastern Championship
Games existed which was first mooted in 1912 at a location set between the Empire of Japan,
the Philippine Islands, and China. The Far Eastern Games were first held in Manila in 1913
with 6 participating nations. Ten more Far Eastern Games were held until 1934. Against the
withdrawal from participation. Consequently, the Far Eastern Games scheduled for 1938
were cancelled. The organization was ultimately discontinued
Formation
After World War II, a number of Asian countries became independent. Many of the newly
independent Asian countries desired the formation of a new type of competition whereby
Asian dominance was not expressed through violence, but instead strengthened through
between sportsmen from China and the Philippines raised the idea of restoring the Far
Eastern Games. However, Guru Dutt Sondhi, the Indian International Olympic Committee
representative, did not believe that restoration of the Far Eastern Games would sufficiently
display the spirit of unity and level of achievement taking place in Asian sports. As a result,
he proposed to sports leaders the idea of having a wholly new competition – which came to
be the Asian Games. This led to an agreement to form the Asian Athletic Federation. A
preparatory committee was then set up to draft the charter for this new body. On 13 February
1949, the Asian Athletic Federation was formally inaugurated in New Delhi, alongside the
name Asian Games Federation, with New Delhi announced as the first host city of the Asian
Games which were scheduled to be held in 1950.[6][7]
Crisis, reorganization, expansion
First Asian Games opening ceremony
Starting in 1962, the Games were hit
the participation of Israel and Taiwan
due to political and religious issues. As
sponsorship of the Games and terminated Indonesia as one of the IOC members. [8] The Asian
International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), also removed their recognition of the Games.[10]
[11]
In 1970, South Korea dropped its plan to host the Games allegedly due to national security
crisis, however the main reason was due to financial crisis, forcing the previous host Thailand
to administer the Games again in Bangkok using funds transferred from South Korea. [12] Prior
to the Games, Japan was asked to host the Games, but declined due to Expo '70 in Osaka. [13]
This edition also marked the first time the Games have a television broadcasting throughout
the world.[14] In 1974, the Games formally recognized the participation of China, North Korea
and Mongolia. Israel was allowed to participate despite the opposition from Arab world,
while Taiwan was permitted to continue taking part (as "Chinese Taipei" despite its status
was abolished in general meeting on 16 November 1973 by Games Federation.[15]
The last is 1978, Pakistan dropped its plan to host the Games in 1975 due to financial crisis
and political issues.[16] Thailand offered to help and the Games were once again held in
Bangkok. However, once again, like in 1962, Taiwan and Israel were refused the
participation by Games Federation, amid political issues and security fears. [17] Several
governing bodies protested against the ban, like IAAF, threatened to bar the participating
players from 1980 Summer Olympics,[18] this caused several teams to withdraw prior to the
Games.
Sports
Forty-four sports were presented in Asian Games history, including 2014 Games in Incheon.
shooter of Nepalese origin who competes in the
10 metre air pistol and 50 metre pistol events.
Early life
His early life was spent in a village of Sittalpati
8, Sankhuwa Sabha district of Nepal. He is the
fourth brother among five siblings. NaibSubedar
in the 11 Gorkha Rifles of Indian Army, Rai who
shifting his base in 2006. Three of his brothers are in foreign countries working odd jobs
while his mother cultivates rice on a small patch of terraced land that the family holds in his
native village in Nepal. That Rai, is a citizen of India is proved by the fact that he possesses a
passport (No J6211856), valid till February 21, 2021, with the address of GRRC Kiranti Line,
National Games where he represented Uttar Pradesh.
“He has a valid Indian passport. He is an Indian citizen as per Citizenship ACT 1955,” said
Amul Asthana, commandant of the Lucknow based 11 GRCCRai’s regiment. His father died
in 2006, which prompted his move to India from Nepal. He joined the 11 Gorkha Regiment
in 2006 as a Sepoy and eventually moved up the ladder to the rank of NaibSubedar. Rai first
made it to the Army's shooting squad in 201011 but failed to live up to expectations and was
subsequently sent back to his unit, putting an end to his training at the AMU in Mhow.
In 2014, at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, he won the silver medal in the 10 metre air pistol
event. Following this, in Maribor, Rai won two medals; a silver in the 50 metre pistol event,
and a gold in the 10 metre air pistol event. In the process, he won three medals in nine days at
the World Cup[5] and also became the first person to have won two medals at a single world
cup for India.[6] Following his achievements, he was ranked number 1 in the world, in 10
metre air pistol and number 4, in 50 metre pistol, in July 2014.
Mary Kom
Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom (born 1
only woman boxer to have won a medal in
each one of the six world championships. [3]
only Indian woman boxer to have qualified
for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing
been ranked as No. 4 AIBA World Women's
Ranking Flyweight category.[5] She became the first Indian woman boxer to get a Gold Medal
in the Asian Games in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea.[6] Mary Kom is supported by Olympic
Gold Quest.
Kom was born in Kangathei, in Churachandpur district of Manipur in eastern India. Her
parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom, worked in jhum fields.[7] She did her
education from Loktak Christian Model High School, Moirang, up to her class VI standard
and attended St. Xavier Catholic School, Moirang, up to class VIII. She then moved to
Adimjati High School, Imphal, for her schooling for class IX and X, but was unable to pass
the matriculation exam. Not wishing to reappear for them, she quit her school and gave her
examination from NIOS, Imphal and graduation from Churachandpur College. Although she
had a keen interest in athletics from childhood, it was the success of Dingko Singh that
inspired her to become a boxer in 2000. She started her training under M. Narjit Singh,
Manipur State Boxing Coach at Khuman Lampak, Imphal.[9]
After a twoyear break, she won a silver medal at the 2008 Asian Women's Boxing
Championship in India[10] and a fourth successive gold medal at the AIBA Women's World
Boxing Championship in China,[11] followed by a gold medal at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games
in Vietnam.
Sania Mirza
1986) is an Indian professional tennis
player who is currently ranked No. 1
singles in 2013, she was ranked by the
Women's Tennis Association as India's
doubles. Throughout her career, Mirza
successful female Indian tennis player
ever and one of the highestpaid and
highprofile athletes in the country
In her singles career, Mirza has notable wins over Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva and
Marion Bartoli; as well as former world No. 1s Martina Hingis, Dinara Safina, and Victoria
Azarenka. She is the highestranked female player ever from India, peaking at world No. 27
in singles in mid2007; however, a major wrist injury forced her to give up her singles career
and focus on the doubles circuit, where she is currently ranked No. 1. [7] She has achieved a
number of firsts for her native country, including surpassing US$1 million in career earnings
(now over $5 million), winning a Prolevel title, and winning six major titles (three each in
women's doubles and in mixed doubles), as well as qualifying for (and eventually winning)
the WTA Finals in 2014 alongside Cara Black, defending the title the following year
partnering with Martina Hingis.[8]
In addition, she is the third Indian woman in the Open Era to feature and win a round at a
Grand Slam tournament (going as far as the last 16). She has also won a total of 14 medals
(including 6 Gold) at three major multisport events, namely the Asian Games, the
Commonwealth Games and the AfroAsian Games. Mirza was named one of the "50 heroes
of Asia" by Time in October 2005.[9] In March 2010, The Economic Times named Mirza in
the list of the "33 women who made India proud".[
Seema Antil
Seema Punia Antil aka
Seema Punia or Seema
1983) is an Indian
Asian Games.
Early life
Seema Antil was born in a Jat family of Antil gotra in Khewda village of Sonipat district in
Haryana.[2] Her sporting career began at the age of 11 years as a hurdler and a longjumper,
but later took to discus throw.[3] Her gold medal win at the World Junior Championships in
2000 in Santiago earned her the nickname .'Millennium Child'[4] She studied in the
Government College, Sonipat.
Career
Antil originally won the gold medal at the 2000 World Junior Championships, but lost it due
to a positive drugs test for pseudoephedrine. As per the rules in force at that time for such an
offence, her National Federation issued her a public warning after stripping her of the medal.
[5]
She won a bronze medal at the next World Junior Championships in 2002. She won the
silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and was honoured with Bhim Award by the
Haryana state government on 26 June 2006. Her absence from the 2006 Asian Games
attracted considerable media attention.[6] She had tested positive for a steroid (stanozolol)
prior to the Games but was cleared to participate by her National Federation. She, however,
opted out of the team for the Games.[7] She won the bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth
Games. She finished 13th at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2014, she won the silver medal at
the Commonwealth Games and
a gold at the Asian Games.[8]
Saurav Ghosal
August 1986, in Kolkata, West
Bengal) is a professional squash player from India and reached a careerhigh world ranking
of World No. 15 in December 2013. He completed his schooling at Lakshmipat Singhania
Academy in Kolkata.
Career overview
In 2013, Saurav became the first Indian to reach the Quarter finals of the World Squash
Championship at Manchester, England.[1] In 2004, he became the first Indian ever to win the
coveted British Junior Open Under19 Squash title, defeating Adel El Said of Egypt in the
final at Sheffield, England. Saurav moved to Chennai after completing his school and was
based at the ICL squash academy in Chennai and coached by Major (Rtd) Maniam and Cyrus
Poncha in Chennai, India. Currently based in Leeds, he trains with Malcolm Willstrop at
Pontefract Squash Club in West Yorkshire. Saurav is the current Indian national champion
after he defeated Gaurav Nandrajog at the National Championships 2006 in New Delhi. As of
May 2010, his PSA world rank is 27. In the top 100 in the world are two of his Indian Squash
Colleagues Siddharth Suchde (80) and Harinder Pal Sandhu (90). Saurav won the bronze
medal at the Asian Games 2006 Doha and was awarded the Arjuna Award by the President of
India in August 2007.
Saurav started playing squash in his hometown of Kolkata, at the Kolkata Racquet Club. He
did his schooling from Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, before moving to Chennai to join the
ICL Squash Academy. Here he was coached by retired Major Maniam and Cyrus Poncha.
Ghosal has numerous firsts to his credit, the first Indian to be ranked junior World No one,
the first to bag the junior National championship three years in a row and in December 2006,
he won the country the first medal in squash in the Doha Asian Games. His first major title
was the German Open (U17) in May 2002 and he won the Dutch Open two months later.[2]