Ricardo Fortaleza was the youngest and Hawa Singh the oldest winner in the Bangkok 1970 Asian Games

The 1970 edition of the Asian Games was held in Bangkok, Thailand in December after the 1966 event once again. Philippines’ six-time National Games winner strong teenager Ricardo Fortaleza won his weight class defeating all of his rivals with superb footwork in the Asian Games where South Korea won half dozen of titles. India’s Hawa Singh defended his throne in the Asian Games after the 1966 edition.
The event was the sixth Asian Games and the fifth boxing tournament in the history of the multisport event. South Korea topped the medal rankings in 1962 and in 1966 and their boxers could continue that tradition in Bangkok as well proving the country was the best Asian nation in our sport some decades ago.
The first boxing tournament was held in 7 men weight classes in Manila but from the second edition boxers could attend in 10 different categories. The Olympic Council of Asia raised the number of the weight classes up to 11 in the 1966 edition. Boxers could attend in the 1970 Bangkok edition from the 48kg up to the +81kg weight categories.
South Korea continued its hegemony in the next 1970 Asian Games as well, among the 11 weight classes their boxers could win finally six divisions in Bangkok. Thailand ranked No.2 with their two titles and overall six medals in the ranking table. Philippines, India and Indonesia won the further titles in Bangkok where altogether 11 countries took at least one bronze medal in the event.
South Korea’s Jee Yong Ju claimed silver medal in the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games and following that strong performance he was able to get the title of the Asian Games in Bangkok two years later. The 22-year-old South Korean flyweight (51kg) boxer defeated Japan’s Miyoji Tateyama in the final of the Asian Games getting his next big result during his career.
Ricardo Fortaleza won the gold medal in the first Asian Junior Championships in 1969 and following his debut among the senior boxers the 19-year-old talent won the title in the Asian Games. Fortaleza, who worked later as coach in Oman, Taipei and in Australia, defeated Burma’s Win Maung in the final of the bantamweight (54kg) with impressive performance.
Indonesia’s first boxing gold medal in the history of the Asian Games was achieved by Welem Gommies who defeated Pakistan’s Arif Malik in the final of the middleweight (75kg). India’s 11-times National Champion Hawa Singh also demonstrated his power at the heavyweight (+81kg) and defended his Asian Games title after beating Iran’s Omran Hatami in the final of the Bangkok event.

Don’t forget you can keep up with all of the action, news, results and photos by following ASBC on Facebook and Instagram.
ASBC website: www.asbcnews.org
ASBC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ASBC.Boxing/
ASBC Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asbc_official/