The next most successful nation was the United Arab Republic (combining Egypt and Syria), which swept the men's distance track events, and also won four gold medals.

The Asian Games sprint and hurdles champion Mohammad Sarengat by China's Gao Jiqiao.

Ni Zhiqin won the men's high jump and would break the world record in that event later in his career.

His counterpart on the women's side Zheng Fengrong was similarly successful, having become the first Chinese world record breaker in 1957 – here she was only runner-up (behind her teammate Wu Fushan) but won the women's pentathlon event.

[2] Another high-profile competitor was men's long jump winner Ali Brakchi, an Algerian who represented France at the 1960 Summer Olympics.