Pollution,traffic could have cost Delhi the Asian games:

Evaluation committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) listed the 2 areas of concern in its report following its visit to Delhi to assess its readiness to host the games

The bidding committee had assured a separate lane to avoid traffic congestion

Also small counties may have ditched India during the secret ballot voting

New Delhi also banked on the fact that it is hosting the 2010 Commonwealth games and most of the infrastructure would be ready for the Asian games.

India hosted the 1951 and 1982 games.