1982 Asian Games

A total of 3,411 athletes from 33 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in these games, competing in 196 events in 21 sports and 23 disciplines. The number of participating countries was the highest in Asian Games history. Handball, equestrian, rowing and golf were included for the first time; fencing and bowling were excluded.

Highlights

These Asian Games saw the beginning of Chinese dominance in the medals tally.

Japan had won the maximum number of medals in previous editions of the Games. China made its presence felt in the sporting world by dethroning Japan as the top medalists. In preparation for the IX Asian Games, color television was introduced in India in a big way, as the Games were to be broadcast in colour.

The logo of the games was the image of Mishra Yantra, one of the four distinct astronomical instruments of the Jantar Mantar, New Delhi observatory.

The mascot for the Games was Appu – a young elephant, based on a real-life one named Kuttinarayanan, who died on 14 May 2005.

Host of the next (10th) Asian Games in 1986, and the 24th Summer Olympics in 1988, Seoul, South Korea participated in the Delhi Asian Games with a 406-person delegation, including an observation team to study the facilities, management and events. Doordarshan started colour television broadcasts expressly for the Asian Games 1982.

It was officially opened by President Zail Singh and athlete's oath was taken by P.T. Usha. The main stadium for the games was the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

A coin was also minted for the event.