The Western Asiatic Games was a multi-sport event for athletes from Western Asia. The games were established since as a replacement to the Far Eastern Games, which were cancelled due to the political difficulties between China and Japan. The games were suggested and organized by the IOC member in India, Guru Dutt Sondhi.
The scope of the Games comprised all the countries east of Suez and west of Singapore. The first and only edition of the games was celebrated in Delhi, India from 27 February to 3 March 1934. A second event was planned to be held in Palestine Mandate, however the games were cancelled due to the armed conflict in the region.[1][2]
The Asian Games was later launched as a successor competition and, at a more narrow regional level, the West Asian Games emerged to fulfil the position of an event for West Asia.
The First Western Asiatic Games was celebrated in Delhi between 27 February and 3 March 1934 at the Irwin Amphitheater. Four countries—Afghanistan, British India, Palestine Mandate and Ceylon—participated. The participants competed in athletics, aquatic sports, including swimming and diving, and field hockey.
Athletics was contested at the Irwin Amphitheater, New Delhi from 2 to 3 March.
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 yards | R.A. Vernieux  India (IND) |
9.7 | E.S. Whiteside India (IND) |
Mohamed Khan  Afghanistan (AFG) |
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| 220 yards | E.S. Whiteside India (IND) |
22.5 | Theodore Levy  Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
23.4 | Shlomoh Meranz Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
23.8 |
| 880 yards | G.P. Bhalla India (IND) |
2:03.5 | D.I. Colonne  Ceylon (CEY) |
Chengappa India (IND) |
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| 1 mile | N. Mathews Ceylon (CEY) |
4:41.8 | Harcharn Singh India (IND) |
Walter Frankl Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
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| 3 Miles | Kishen Singh India (IND) |
15:22.6 | Walter Frankl Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
16:23.4 | Gujjar Singh India (IND) |
|
| 6 Miles | Gujjar Singh India (IND) |
32:33.5 | Babu Ram India (IND) |
Walter Frankl Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
36:37.4 | |
| 440 Yards Hurdles | M. Asghar India (IND) |
1:00.0 | Latif Mohammed India (IND) |
Mohammed Khan Afghanistan (AFG) |
||
| Shot Put | Cyril Cl. Dissanayake Ceylon (CEY) |
41 ft8+5⁄8 in (12.716 m) | Ahmed Zahur India (IND) |
Dov Rabinovich Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
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| Long Jump | Niranjan Singh India (IND) |
21 ft11+3⁄4 in (6.699 m) | K. Duraisingam Ceylon (CEY) |
McGowan India (IND) |
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| High Jump | R. Francis India (IND) |
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | W. W. Tambimuttu Ceylon (CEY) |
Abu Yusuf India (IND) |
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| Hop, Step and Jump | Mehr Chand India (IND) |
45 ft5+5⁄8 in (13.859 m) | Niranjan Singh India (IND) |
Mohamed Khan Afghanistan (AFG) |
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| Hammer Throw | M. Ishaq India (IND) |
94 ft 5 in (28.78 m) | Ahmed Khan Afghanistan (AFG) |
Dov Rabinovich Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
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| Discus Throw | E. Whiter India (IND) |
116 ft3+3⁄4 in (35.452 m) | Dov Rabinovich Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
Gurdit Singh India (IND) |
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| Javelin Throw | E. Whiter India (IND) |
168 ft4+3⁄4 in (51.327 m) | Mehr Chand India (IND) |
R.E. Blaze Ceylon (CEY) |
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| Pole Vault | Abdul Shafi India (IND) |
11 ft5+1⁄2 in (3.493 m) | Gajinder Singh India (IND) |
W. W. Tambimuttu Ceylon (CEY) |
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| Relay Race | Ceylon |
India |
Mandatory Palestine |
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Aquatic sports, including Swimming and Diving were contested at Patiala from February 25 to February 26, 1934.
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 Yards freestyle | Raja Ram Sawoo India (IND) |
1:12.8 | Sushil Bose India (IND) |
Efraim Alfred Guth Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
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| 220 Yards breaststroke | Darshan Singh India (IND) |
3:57.4 | P.K. Bannerjee India (IND) |
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| 440 Yards freestyle | N.C. Malik India (IND) |
6:26.4 | Efraim Alfred Guth Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
Ghulam Hussain Butt India (IND) |
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| 1 Mile Freestyle | N.C. Malik India (IND) |
28:14.8 | Efraim Alfred Guth Mandatory Palestine (PAL) |
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| 110 Yards backstroke | Bakshi Ranbir India (IND) |
1:39.8 | D.I. Holamn India (IND) |
De Khogen India (IND) |
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| Diving | Rit Mohinder Singh India (IND) |
Sushil Bose India (IND) |
Bashir Ali Shaikh India (IND) |
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Only two countries British India and Afghanistan had entered their teams in the field hockey tournament. The only match of the tournament thus also served as the final. The British Indian team defeated Afghanistan 5–0.
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* Host nation (India)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India (IND)* | 20 | 13 | 8 | 41 |
| 2 | Ceylon (CEY) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | Mandatory Palestine (PAL) | 0 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 4 | Afghanistan (AFG) | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Totals (4 entries) | 23 | 23 | 20 | 66 | |
Other Games celebrated in India:
