At Colombo in 1991, in terms of medal tally India took the top spot as it had been doing since the inception of the SAF Games in 1984. India went on to improve from 61 gold medals won at Islamabad to 64 gold medals this time. Sri Lanka earned 44 showing a marked improvement in the performance which had been seen their players win only six gold medals at Islamabad . Indian weightlifters did India proud by winning three gold, the same number of silver and bronze medals in each category. A significant feature of the Colombo edition of the SAF Games was that all but two swimming records were shattered in the women's category. In fact swimming was dominated by Sri Lanka, in particular the cousins Jullian Bolling and Dipika Chanmugham. Between them they bagged 13 gold medals to rightly earn the titles of best sportsman and sportswoman of the games respectively. Sri Lankan women emerged winners of the volleyball event whereas women from Nepal bagged the title in table tennis. Pakistan won
The SAF Games came into existence as the power of sports was recognised as an essential too to strengthen the SAARC movement. It was felt that a sports organisation should be formed for countries located in South Asia similar to the South East Asian Games (SEA Games) which proved to be popular and was recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia. The concept was discussed by officials of the countries in South Asia in 1982 and later at a meeting in Bahrain in 1983. A decision was then taken regarding formation of the South Asia Sports Federation. The membership was limited to the eight countries in the region, namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. The idea and the games acquired a formal shape in 1984 when Kathmandu spruced itself to play host to the first SAF Games. Barring Afghanistan all the member-countries called upon its young sportsmen to show their sporting skills on this new platform.
South Asian Olympic Council Logo 1st South Asian Games Logo - Kathmandu 1984 2nd South Asian Games Logo - Dhaka 1985 3rd South Asian Games Logo - Calcutta 1987 4th South Asian games Logo - Islamabad 1989 5th South Asian Games Logo - Colombo 1991 6th South Asian Games Logo - Dhaka 1993 7th South Asian games Logo - Madras 1995 8th South Asian Games Logo - Kathmandu 1999 9th South Asian Games Logo - Islamabad 2004 10th South Asian Games Logo - Colombo 2006
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