Wrestling History at Asian Games: 1954 to 2026

NAGOYA, Japan (September 10) -- The Asian Games is a continental multi-sport event held every four years organized by the Olympic Council of Asia. The first edition of the Asian Games was held in New Delhi in 1951 with six sports and 11 countries.

Asian Games 2026 Entries | 2026 Asian Games Wrestling Schedule

Wrestling was including in the Asian Games from the second edition, in 1954 edition in Manila, Philippines with Freestyle. Greco-Roman was included at the 1962 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia while Women's Wrestling debut at the 2002 edition in Busan, South Korea.

Historically, Japan and Iran have dominated wrestling at the Asian Games with Iran leading in the gold-medal count while Japan leads in the overall medal count. Korea dominated wrestling at the continental Games from 1986 to 2002, winning most golds overall. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, India, China, and the DPR Korea have also shown strong results at the Asian Games.

Manila 1954: Participating countries - Afghanistan, Ceylon, China, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines

Japan won seven gold medals while Pakistan won one. In the eight Freestyle weight classes, +87kg was the highest weight.

Tokyo 1958: Participating nations - Afghanistan, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines

Iran won three gold medals while Japan managed five. Two of Iran's champions were Emam HABIBI (IRI) and Gholamreza TAKHTI (IRI).

Jakarta 1962: Participating nations - Afghanistan, Ceylon, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines

Greco-Roman was introduced at this edition. Japan won 10 golds, five each in Freestyle and Greco-Roman. Pakistan won two in Freestyle and one Greco-Roman. India won its first gold as well, one in Freestyle and two in Greco-Roman. The highest weight classes were shifted to +97kg.

Bangkok 1966: Participating nations - Afghanistan, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Thailand

Only Freestyle was competed at this edition. Japan won four golds, Iran three and Pakistan one.

Bangkok 1970: Participating nations - Ceylon, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Thailand

Freestyle was expanded to 10 weight classes with +100kg weight class as the top one. Iran emerged as the top country with six gold medals and Japan won four. [The 68kg gold medal was shared]. India managed to win one gold.

Tehran 1974: Participating nations - Afghanistan, China, DPR Korea, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines

The Games saw the highest participations so far and Iran absolutely dominated in both Freestyle and Greco. Mongolia, Iraq, and the DPR Korea also participated for the first time. Mongolia won two gold medals in Freestyle but it was Iran topping with five golds. South Korea won its first gold medal while Japan won three. [+100kg gold was shared]

In Greco-Roman, Iran almost swept the gold medals. It won eight gold medals while Japan won two golds.

Bangkok 1978: Participating nations - Bangladesh, China, DPR Korea, India, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand

Japan returned to top with six golds and India won two. Mongolia and Korea managed to one gold each. Bangladesh and Syria made their debuts at this edition

New Delhi 1982: Participants nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Yemen

It became the highest participated Games back then with 17 countries with Saudi Arabia and Yemen making their debuts. Japan managed four golds to remain at the top with Iran a close second with three golds. Mongolia managed two golds while one gold went to India.

Seoul 1986: Participating nations - China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia

Greco-Roman made a comeback at this edition and Korea rocked the wrestling world with nine gold medals from 20 on offer. Japan managed to win five while Iran went home with four golds. India and Pakistan won one gold each. It would remain the last gold for both countries. (India ended the drought in 2014 while Pakistan has not been able to win any medal since 1986).

Beijing 1990: Participating nations - Afghanistan, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Vietnam, Yemen

The Asian Games traveled to China for the first time and six different countries won gold medals. Korea was class apart with 13 gold medals out of 20. The next best was Iran with three, and China and Japan finished with two each. Mongolia and the DPR Korea won one each.

Hiroshima 1994: Participating nations - Afghanistan, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Once the Soviet Union split, the number of Asian countries increased. Despite influx of quality wrestlers from Central Asia, Korea still managed its stronghold. It won nine gold medals from 20, eight of which came in Greco-Roman. Iran won six gold medals, all in Freestyle, while first-time participant Kazakhstan won three. Japan and Mongolia managed one each.

Bangkok 1998: Participating nations - China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Syria, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

20 countries participated in the 1998 edition with Nepal making its debut. Korea once again topped the table with seven gold medals out of 16 weight classes. Iran was close with five golds while Kazakhstan and DPR Korea won two golds each.

Busan 2002: Participating nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

A historic edition of the Asian Games as Women's Wrestling was included in Busan. The participation record was broken as well with 24 countries with Jordan, Palestine, Qatar and Tajikistan making their debuts. The weight classes were seven for Freestyle, seven for Greco-Roman and four for Women's Wrestling.

Korea still managed to win six gold medals, three each in Greco-Roman and Freestyle. Japan won three golds, with two coming in Women's Wrestling. Uzbekistan also won three gold medals, Kazakhstan won two and so did China. The two gold medals for China came in Women's Wrestling. Iran was reduced to just one gold and Mongolia also won one gold.

Doha 2006: Participating nations - Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

The Asian Games travelled to Qatar in 2006 and the participating number of countries increased to 28 countries with Cambodia and United Arab Emirates making their debuts. Wrestling began awarding two bronze medals from this edition. Six different countries won gold but Korea managed to outclass Iran with five golds as Iran managed four. Japan four golds as well with three coming in Women's Wrestling. Uzbekistan and China won two gold medals each while Kazakhstan manage one.

Guangzhou 2010: Participating nations - Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Syria,, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Once again, 28 countries participated in the Games in Guangzhou. It was here that the wrestling world was shocked as Korea did not win a single gold medal. Iran emerged as the best country with seven gold medals. Japan won three golds while Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan won two gold medals each. DPR Korea won gold in Women's Wrestling to join Kazakhstan and Mongolia as first-time gold winners in Women's Wrestling. Kyrgyzstan won its first gold at this edition.

Incheon 2014: Participating nations - Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Laos and Myanmar made their debuts in Incheon which saw the participation number rise to 30 countries. Iran once again topped the table with six gold medals while Japan, with three golds in Women's Wrestling, managed four. Korea returned to gold medal tally with three, same as Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan, DPR Korea, China and India won one gold medal each as India ended its 28-year wait for a wrestling gold at the Asian Games.

Jakarta 2018: Participating nations - Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

This was the first edition in which Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling were competed in six weight classes each with 29 countries participating, one of which was debutant Bahrain. Iran continued its dominance with five gold medals. China, DPR Korea, Uzbekistan, Korea and India won two gold medals each while powerhouse Japan won one gold that too in Greco-Roman. India won its first-ever gold medal in Women's Wrestling through Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) while Japan, shockingly, drew a blank in Women's Wrestling. Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia also won gold medal each.

Hangzhou 2022: Participating nations - Afghanistan, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Kuwait and Singapore were the latest countries at the Asian Games as 29 participated in Hangzhou. Iran and Japan stole five gold medals each with Kyrgyzstan the next best with three. Five countries won one gold medal each - China, DPR Korea, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Bahrain, its first courtesy Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN).

Aichi-Nagoya 2026: Participating nations - Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, Hong Kong China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Timore Lesote, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

The 2026 edition of Asian Games is set to break the record of number of participating countries. 32 countries will be part of the Asian Games 2026 with Hong Kong, China and Timor Leste making their debuts. Japan and Iran are expected to dominate wrestling.

Freestyle, Women's Wrestling and Greco-Roman are part of the current set up of Asian Games and will be competed in all three at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya edition.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did wrestling first become part of the Asian Games?

Wrestling was first included at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, Philippines. The original program featured Freestyle.

When did Women's Wrestling debut at the Asian Games?

Women's Wrestling made its Asian Games debut at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, with four weight classes.

How many wrestling weight categories are included at the Asian Games?

The Asian Games wrestling program consists of 18 weight categories, six Freestyle, six Greco-Roman and six Women's Wrestling weight classes.

Where will wrestling be held at the 2026 Asian Games?

Wrestling is part of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, which will be hosted in Japan. Wrestling will be held at the Inae Nagoya City Sports Centre.