Chapter 7: History of the Asian Games

The Asian Games is the biggest multisport event in our continent and the size of the competition turned to a new phase in the recent decade with more than 400 events including boxing. The first edition of the Asian Games was held in Manila in 1954 when host Philippines claimed five gold medals in the boxing tournament.

Tokyo hosted the Asian Games in 1958 when the Japanese boxers were excellent but Burma also claimed gold medal in the boxing event. Pakistan, India and Thailand joined to the winners in 1962 which Asian Games was held in Jakarta where the host Indonesians could win only silver medals.

Bangkok hosted the Asian Games three-times in 1966, 1970 and in 1978 while on those events Korea, Thailand, Pakistan and DPR Korea were able to get most of the gold medals. Indonesia’s big success was achieved by William Gommies in 1978 when he could win the 75 kg weight class.

Delhi saw record number of boxers in 1982 when Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan also sent athletes to India. Korea dominated the boxing tournaments of the Asian Games in the ‘80s which was their golden era in our sport. Hiroshima was the next historical step in 1994 when the Central Asian post-Soviet countries could take part in the Games at the very first time and Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan both nations claimed two gold medals in their debuting appearance.

Bangkok hosted the Asian Games in 1998 once again where Thailand claimed five gold medals and topped the team rankings on home soil. In the next edition in Busan, Korea the Uzbeks could win five gold medals and secured top place in among the nations. Tajikistan wrote history in the Doha 2006 Asian Games where Djakhon Qurbonov won their historical gold medal while Uzbekistan, China, Philippines, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Iran and Mongolia were the key nations in Qatar.

Host China dominated the boxing event of the 16th edition of the Asian Games which was held in Guangzhou in 2010 which is located in the Southeastern part of the huge country. The Chinese squad claimed five gold medals in the Asian Games therefore their boxers finished first place in the team ranking. The Chinese women boxers made excellent performance in Guangzhou and won each of the new Olympic weight classes in the front of the local crowd. Nepal’s Deepak Maharjan secured an unexpected bronze medal at the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) and it was his country’s first boxing medal since 1990. Bhutan also made history at the Games, Sigyel Phub won two bouts in Guangzhou as first boxer from the small country.

Kazakhstan won half dozen of gold medals in the men’s boxing tournament of the Asian Games in Incheon in 2014 where all of the ten finals were spectacular for the crowd. The host nation of the Asian Games claimed the first gold medal of the last competition day and following that success their youngest competitor also achieved a further top position for Korea. Kazakhstan’s Daniyar Yeleussinov was the only boxer in the Asian Games who could defend his throne in Incheon.

Korea is the most successful boxing nation in the history of the boxing tournaments of the Asian Games. Their athletes won all of the twelve weight classes in the 1986 edition in Seoul prior their Olympic Games which was their best ever performance in the Asian Games. Kazakhstan won six gold medals in the Asian Games in Incheon and they are already Rank No.3 in the history of the Games in spite of the fact they could join to the competition only in 1994 following their country became independent.

Overall medal standings in the Asian Games (1954-2014)

Debut in the Asian Country Games Gold Silver Bronze Total 1. Korea 1954 58 25 30 113 2. Thailand 1954 20 22 26 68 3. Kazakhstan 1994 16 11 12 39 4. Philippines 1954 15 9 28 52 5. Uzbekistan 1994 14 10 13 37 6. Japan 1954 13 13 37 63 7. China 1954 9 12 12 33 8. India 1954 8 16 31 55 9. DPR Korea 1974 7 5 8 20 10. Pakistan 1954 6 19 36 61 11. Iran 1954 5 10 27 42 12. Indonesia 1954 3 8 13 24 13. Syria 1978 2 1 7 10 14. Mongolia 1974 1 5 15 21 15. Myanmar 1954 1 4 7 12 16. Chinese Taipei 1990 1 1 1 3 17. Tajikistan 1994 1 0 3 4

Final Medal standings in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games

Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 Kazakhstan 6 2 2 10 2 Korea 2 3 1 6 3 China 1 2 0 3 4 India 1 0 4 5 5 Mongolia 1 0 1 2 6 Thailand 1 0 1 2 7 DPR Korea 1 0 0 1 8 Uzbekistan 0 2 2 4 9 Iran 0 2 1 3 10 Philippines 0 1 3 4 11 Jordan 0 1 2 3 12 Japan 0 0 3 3 13 Turkmenistan 0 0 2 2 14 Vietnam 0 0 2 2 15 Kyrgyzstan 0 0 1 1 16 Pakistan 0 0 1 1