The 1987 South Asian Games, officially the 3rd South Asian Federation Games were a
multi-sport
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...
event, held in
Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
from 20 November to 27 November 1987.
It was the largest sporting event ever to be held in
Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...
, and
West Bengal
West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
as a whole. This was also the first time when
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
hosted these Games.
The games were opened by Indian president
R. Venkataraman
Ramaswamy Venkataraman (, 4 December 191027 January 2009) was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist and politician who served as a Union Minister and as the eighth president of India.
Venkataraman was born in Rajamadam village in Ta ...
and the Games Flame was carried by Indian runner
Milkha Singh
Milkha Singh (20 November 1929 18 June 2021), also known as The Flying Sikh, was an Indian track and field sprinter who was introduced to the sport while serving in the Indian Army. He is the only athlete to win gold at 400 metres at the A ...
, with
Leslie Claudius
Leslie Walter Claudius (25 March 1927 – 20 December 2012) was an Indian field hockey player from Bilaspur. He studied in South Eastern Railway (Now SECR) English Medium School Bilaspur which has produced many national sportsmen.
Leslie Clau ...
lighting the flame.
A total of 10 disciplines were contested in these Games.
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
was the major medal winner at these events, garnering approximately 43% of all the medals. Seven nations participated in these Games.
Sports
;Medal sports (10)
*
![Athletics pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Athletics_pictogram.svg)
Athletics
*
![Basketball pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Basketball_pictogram.svg)
Basketball (debut)
*
![Boxing pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Boxing_pictogram.svg)
Boxing
*
![Football pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Football_pictogram.svg)
Football ()
*
![Kabaddi pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Kabaddi_pictogram.svg)
Kabaddi
*
![Swimming pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Swimming_pictogram.svg)
Swimming
*
![Table tennis pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Table_tennis_pictogram.svg)
Table tennis (debut)
*
![Volleyball pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Volleyball_%28indoor%29_pictogram.svg)
Volleyball (debut)
*
![Weightlifting pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Weightlifting_pictogram.svg)
Weightlifting
*
![Wrestling pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Wrestling_pictogram.svg)
Wrestling
; Demonstration sport (1)
*
![Kho kho pictogram](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Kho_kho_pictogram.svg)
Kho kho
Medal tally
References
South Asian Games
S
South Asian Games, 1987
1987 in Asian sport
Multi-sport events in India
International sports competitions hosted by India
Sports competitions in Kolkata
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