Summary of sports in India
Sport is a significant part of life in India.
The country has a sports history tracing back💲 thousands of years, with sports being a part of tradition, culture, finance and entertainment.
People in India closely follow various sports💲 and enthusiastically participate in them.
Cricket is the most popular spectator sport in the country, it generates the highest television viewership,💲 and features full-capacity audiences in stadiums during international and Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.
In recent decades, football has also become💲 a popular sport in terms of broadcast viewership and stadium audience attendance.
[2][b] The Indian Super League (ISL), is the highest💲 league of football in India.
ISL and national team's matches attract considerable audience in stadium and on TV.
The national football team💲 has won two gold medals at the Asian games, three gold medals at the South Asian Games and one silver💲 at the Asian Cup held in 1964 in Israel by virtue of their runner-up position, reached the semifinal of the💲 1960 Olympics, qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup and has won the SAFF Championship a record number of times.[4][5][6][7]
Kabaddi💲 has grown into the mainstream, and so have badminton, tennis and athletics.
Kho-kho has grown into becoming the fourth-most viewed sport💲 in the country.
[8] India has also had considerable success in field hockey.
India has won the World Cup and multiple medals💲 in field hockey in the Olympic Games.
During that time, Major Dhyan Chand was a notable player.
Sports such as swimming and💲 badminton are played as recreational activities and for exercise.
[9] India does not have a national game.[10][c]
India celebrates its National Sports💲 Day annually on 29 August, on the birthday of India's greatest hockey player, Dhyan Chand.[12]
In recent decades, the Government of💲 India and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have tried to boost sports in the country by launching and frequently💲 organising new national sports events such as Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), Khelo India Winter Games and Khelo India University💲 Games (KIUG) of Khelo India games in various cities across the nation.
[d] Thousands of youngsters participated in it.
The first Khelo💲 India School games was held in 2018.
[e] The initiative also focused on building new infrastructure.
KIYG and KIUG are set up💲 as annual events for youngsters, who represent their states and universities in them.
So far, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and💲 Sports has organised many editions of these games.[14][15]
India's diversity in culture, people, and tribes is reflected in the wide variety💲 of sporting disciplines in the country.
Due to this, some indigenous sports are popular in some regions such as fighter kite💲 and boat racing (including Vallam kali and Vallomkali).
Sports such as golf, rugby, boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, motorsport and basketball💲 are popular to some extent in a few places.
[16] Wrestling was and is popular in some states.
Indians participate in water💲 sports such as scuba diving, boating, surfing and kiteboarding in coastal tourist areas of Goa state, Tarkarli of Maharashtra, Rameshwaram,💲 Netrani Island of Karnataka, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep Islands and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[17]
Professional wrestling and Mixed martial arts (MMA) are💲 popular sports among young audiences and generate high television viewership.
[18] Some Indian wrestlers have achieved great success at the international💲 level in earlier days.
MMA sport has been seeing a massive surge in India in the last few years and has💲 gained significant popularity.
There are a few MMA promotions operating in the country; Bharat Kandhare was and Anshul Jubli is signed💲 with UFC.[19][20]
Cricket became widely popular after India cricket team's 1983 World Cup victory.
During the last couple of decades, India became💲 a cricket powerhouse and a dominating team in the world.
India has hosted the Cricket World Cup thrice and won it💲 twice.
[f] India's the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) are the richest💲 cricket governing body and cricket league in the world, respectively.
Field hockey is the most successful sport for India at the💲 Olympics; the Indian men's team have won twelve Olympic medals including eight gold medals.
To some extent, notable games here are💲 swimming, shooting, boxing, squash, weightlifting, gymnastics, mountain-climbing, skiing, table tennis, basketball, bodybuilding and volleyball.
[g] Indigenous sports in which a considerable💲 number of people indulge include chess, kho kho, cycling, polo, snooker and rugby but it is subject to location.
Cycling is💲 becoming a popular recreational activity and exercise in India.[25]
Kabaddi, an indigenous sport, is experiencing rapid growth and is widely regarded💲 as one of the fastest-growing sports in India, especially following the release of the Indian domestic Pro Kabaddi league.
The sport💲 has garnered substantial television viewership, contributing to its popularity and elevating its monetary value.
[26] The Indian national kabaddi team has💲 achieved remarkable success, winning numerous editions of kabaddi in prestigious tournaments such as the Asian Games, South Asian Games, and💲 Asian Kabaddi Championship.
Additionally, they have emerged victorious in all three seasons of the Kabaddi World Cup and in the Women's💲 Kabaddi World Cup.[27]
Women's sport has grown in India, with professional women's leagues including the Women's Premier League (cricket) and Women's💲 Kabaddi League.[28]
The country has hosted and co-hosted several international sporting events, most notably the 1951 and 1982 Asian Games, the💲 1987, 1995 and 2016 South Asian Games, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 Lusofonia Games, the 1987, 1996,[h] 2011, 2016,💲 2021[i] Men's Cricket world cups and the 1978, 1997, 2013, 2016 Women's Cricket World Cups.
India has hosted editions of SAFF💲 Championship in 1999, 2011, 2015, 2023; SAFF Women's Championship in 2016 and junior FIFA world cups such as 2017 FIFA💲 U-17 World Cup, 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup of football.
India will host the 2023 ODI, 2026 T20, 2031 ODI💲 Cricket World Cup,[j] and 2025 Women's World Cup of Cricket.[30][k]
Domestic professional commercial sports leagues in the country are Premier Handball💲 League (Handball), the IPL and Women's Premier League (cricket), Indian Super League, I-League (football),[31] Pro Kabbadi (Kabaddi), Hockey India League💲 (field hockey), Premier Badminton League (Badminton), Ultimate Table Tennis league (Table Tennis), Prime Volleyball League (Volleyball) and Ultimate Kho Kho💲 league (Kho–kho).
The major international sporting events that are annually organised in India include the Indian Open (golf), India Open (badminton)💲 and India Open (table tennis).
The annual Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award is India's highest award in sport, it is💲 given for excellent performances at the international level in sports, while the Dronacharya Award is given for doing excellent work💲 in the coaching field.
History [ edit ]
Ancient and Medieval period [ edit ]
The world's oldest stadium with terraced stands was💲 constructed in Dholavira, Gujarat during third millennium BCE.
Two stadiums have been identified at the ancient site, one is considered a💲 ceremonial ground, another, a small stadium.[32][33][34]
The importance of sports was also evident in India in the Vedic era.
Physical culture in💲 ancient India was fuelled by religious rights.
The mantra in the Atharvaveda says, "Duty is in my right hand and the💲 fruits of victory in my left.
" In terms of an ideal, these words hold the same sentiments as the traditional💲 Olympic Oath: "For the Honour of my Country and the Glory of Sport."[35]
The modern game of badminton has developed from💲 an old children's game known in England as battledore and shuttlecock, a game popular in ancient India.
The battledore was a💲 paddle and the shuttlecock a small feathered cork, now usually called a "bird".[36]
India has a rich heritage of Martial art.
As💲 per the Mahabharata and Ramayana, Bhima and Hanuman were the greatest Gadadhari ( transl.
One who fights with Gada (Mace weapon))💲 and were accomplished wrestlers, during Mahabharat times Pandava prince Arjun was greatest archer and Ekalavya was an expert archer.
Lord Krishna's💲 brother Balarama was a great Gadadhari.
Kalaripayattu is practised by some as a traditional martial art in South India.
Games like chess💲 and snakes and ladders originated from the ancient Indian games chaturanga and gyan chauper, respectively; these were later transmitted to💲 foreign countries, where they were further modernized.[37][38]
Several Indian variations of tag, such as kabaddi and kho-kho, are believed to have💲 originated in prehistoric times, with kho-kho having been played since at least the fourth century BCE,[39] and the tag variant💲 atya-patya finding mention in the Naṟṟiṇai (written in 300 CE).[40][41][42]
During the rule of the Mughal Empire, a form of wrestling💲 known as pehlwani developed, by combining native malla-yuddha with influences from Persian varzesh-e bastani.[43]
British Colonial period [ edit ]
The Indian💲 Hockey team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, later going on to defeat Germany 8–1 in the final.
During the colonial period,💲 British India[l] competed at six Olympic Games, notably winning medals in field hockey.[m]
British sports were introduced into and became increasingly💲 popular in India during this time period, with some Indians variously participating in British sports in order to rise up💲 the ranks by imitating their colonisers,[46] as well as aiming to achieve victory against the British in their sports in💲 order to prove that the Indians were equal to their colonisers.
[47] Efforts were made to develop the native games of💲 India during this time period; this led to the successful standardisation of games such as kabaddi and kho-kho.[48][49]
Snooker originated in💲 the late 19th century among British Army officers stationed in India.
[50] Modern polo originated in British India in the 19th💲 century,[n] from Manipur, where the game was known as Sagol Kangjei, Kanjai-bazee, or Pulu.
The name "polo" is the anglicized version💲 of the latter.
The first polo club was established in Silchar, Assam, in 1833.
The oldest polo club still in existence is💲 the Calcutta Polo Club, which was established in 1862.[51][52][53]
Dorabji Tata, with the support of Dr.A.G.
Noehren, then director of YMCA, established💲 the Indian Olympic Association in 1927.[54]
One of the world's earliest football clubs, the Mohun Bagan FC was established in the💲 1880s in India.
It is India's oldest professional football club.
It is older than many famous European football clubs such as Real💲 Madrid CF.
The club was formed when The Football Association began making standard rules for football and even before FIFA, the💲 international governing body of football was founded.
The Eden Gardens in Kolkata, established in 1864, is the oldest cricket stadium in💲 India, It is one of the iconic cricket stadium in the world and had been part of historic cricket matches💲 [o][p]
India hosted the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951 and 1982.
The current Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was💲 initially set up as the Department of Sports in 1982 at the time of organisation of the Games in New💲 Delhi.
Its name was changed to the Department of Youth Affairs & Sports during celebration of the International Youth Year in💲 1985.
[55] India has also hosted or co-hosted several international sporting events, including the 1987, 1996 and 2011 Cricket World Cups,💲 the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, the 2010 Hockey World Cup, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Major international sporting events annually held in💲 India include the Chennai Open, the Mumbai Marathon and the Delhi Half Marathon.
The country hosted the first Indian Grand Prix💲 in 2011.
[56] The largest stadium in the world, the Narendra Modi Stadium is in India.
Administration [ edit ]
The Ministry of💲 Youth Affairs and Sports is the dedicated ministry of the Government of India for sport in the country.
Anurag Thakur is💲 the incumbent sports minister of India.[57]
The ministry is run by a Secretary to the Government of India, and is usually💲 headed by a Minister of State.
[58] A ministry-recognised National Sports Federation Of India (NSFOI) represents each Olympic and non-Olympic sport,💲 the only major exception being the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is not an NSFOI.
[59][q] As💲 of 2019, 56 NSFs are recognised by the ministry.
[61] The presence of politicians at the helm of many such federations💲 has been criticised for causing inefficiency and corruption.[59]
For each sport, India has a separate national sports governing body.
These include the💲 All India Football Federation for football, National Rifle Association of India for shooting, Boxing Federation of India for boxing.
The Sports💲 Authority of India, the field arm of the ministry, supports and nurtures talent in youth, and provides them with the💲 requisite infrastructure, equipment, hostels, diet, training-coaching facilities and competition exposure.[62]
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is responsible for the Indian contingent's💲 participation in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games (outdoor, indoor and beach), South Asian Games, Lusofonia Games, World Games💲 and Military World Games.
The selection of the national teams is done by the respective national federations and then recommended to💲 the IOA for official sponsorship for participation in those games.[54]
The Paralympic Committee of India is responsible for the Indian contingent's💲 participation in the Paralympic Games and Asian Para Games.
The All India Sports Council for the Deaf is responsible for India's💲 participation in the Deaflympics Games.
The Special Olympics Bharat is responsible for India's participation in the Special Olympics.
The Association of Indian💲 Universities is responsible for India participating in the Universiade Games.
The School Games Federation of India is responsible for India's participation💲 in the Gymnasiade Games.
International sports events held in India [ edit ]
The following is a list of international sports events💲 held in India:
India at major international multi–sports events [ edit ]Olympics [ edit ]
A single athlete, Norman Pritchard, represented India💲 in the 1900 Olympics, winning two silver medals.
India sent its first national team to the Olympics in 1920, and has💲 participated in every Summer Olympic Games ever since.
India has also competed at several Winter Olympic Games since 1964.
As of 2021,💲 India has won a total of 35 Summer Olympic medals.
India won its first gold medal in men's field hockey in💲 the 1928 Olympic Games.
On winning the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Olympics, Abhinav Bindra became the first Indian💲 to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games, and India's first gold medal since 1980, when the men's💲 field hockey team had won the gold.
In 2021,Neeraj Chopra won the men's javelin throw gold medal at the Tokyo 2020💲 Olympics[78][79]
India also performed in Paralympic Games.
Commonwealth Games [ edit ]
Tennis player Sania Mirza has won multiple medals, including in various💲 Grand Slam events, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
India has competed in all but four editions of the Commonwealth Games, starting💲 at the second Games in 1934.
India has hosted the Games once, in 2010 at Delhi.
India is the fourth-most successful country💲 at the games; it has won a total of 504 medals, including 181 gold medals.
Asian Games [ edit ]
India has💲 participated in every edition of the Asian Games, and has hosted the Games in 1951 and 1982 in New Delhi.
As💲 of 2018, India is the sixth-most successful country, winning 671 medals, including 139 golds.
India has won at least one gold💲 medal in each tournament.
India's performance is also very commendable in the Asian Para Games.
World Games [ edit ]
India has participated💲 in every edition of the World Games.
India has won total 5 medals including one gold.
South Asian Games [ edit ]
India💲 has participated in every edition of the South Asian Games.India has No.
1 Rank in this Multi–sport competition.
Lusofonia Games [ edit💲 ]
India has also participate in the Lusofonia Games.
India's performance very well in this multi–sport event.
Others Multi–Sport Events [ edit ]
India💲 also participated in the Deaflympics Games, Special Olympics Games, Military World Games, Universiade Games, Gymnasiade Games.
The National Games of India💲 [ edit ]
The National Games of India are conducted by the Indian Olympic Association and are meant to identify national💲 sporting talents who can be selected for the Olympics.
The first National Games, then called the Indian Olympic Games, were held💲 in Lahore in 1924, while the first modern Games were held in New Delhi in 1985.[80]
Olympic sports [ edit ]Archery💲 [ edit ]
The game of archery has historical significance, as royals in the ancient days used to practice archery.
Modern-day archery💲 in India began in the early 1970s, before its introduction as an Olympic event in 1972, and it was formalised💲 in 1973 when the Archery Association of India (AAI) came into existence.
Since its inception, AAI has been creating an organised💲 structure for the sport.
India has been producing some world class players who are the medal hopefuls in international events of💲 archery.
Athletics [ edit ]
India's is not a major competitor in Athletics.
Very few Indian athletes have won medals and championships at💲 the international level.
As of 28 October 2022, It have won three medals in summer Olympics.
The Athletics Federation of India is💲 the national governing body of athletics in India.
Norman Pritchard was the first Indian athlete, sprinter who won an Olympic medal💲 for India, he won two silver medals in 200m sprint and 200m hurdle, track and field event in 1900 Paris💲 Olympic.[81][82]
Neeraj Chopra won the first ever Olympic gold medal in track and field event for India, at the 2020 Summer💲 Olympics in Tokyo.
He won the medal in Javelin throw event.
[83] Chopra has won the second individual Olympic gold medal by💲 an Indian so far.
Anju Bobby George made history when she won the bronze medal in Women's long jump at the💲 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris.
With this achievement, she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal💲 in a World Championships in Athletics jumping 6.70m in 2010.
For 52 years, Milkha Singh was the only athlete to win💲 an individual gold medal at a Commonwealth Games, however, at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Krishna Punia created history by winning💲 the Women's discus throw gold medal for India and was also the first Indian woman to win a gold in💲 athletics at the Commonwealth Games.
[84] In the same edition of the Commonwealth Games, Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Akkunji and💲 Mandeep Kaur won the Women's 4 × 400 m (Relay) gold medal.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Vikas Gowda won the💲 Men's Discus Throw gold medal.
Hima Das is the only Indian track athlete to win a medal at any IAAF global💲 event.
She won the gold medal in Women's 400 metres at 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships at Tampere, Finland, on 12💲 July 2018, clocking a time of 51.46 seconds.
[85][86] She is the second gold medalist in athletics at IAAF World U20💲 Championships after Chopra who won men's javelin throw gold at 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships by setting world junior record💲 with a throw of 86.48 m.
Later Chopra went on to win the men's javelin throw gold at 2018 Commonwealth Games.
In💲 2020, at the Tokyo Olympics, he became the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in men's javelin💲 throw.
[r] At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Lalita Babar becomes the first Indian athlete since 1984 to reach Olympics finale in💲 the event of Women's 3000 metres steeplechase,[87] before her, P.T.
Usha reach the finale of Women's 400 metres hurdles at 1984💲 Summer Olympics.P.T.
Usha won multiple gold medals in different editions of the Asian Games and Asian Athletics Championships.
Lavy Pinto was the💲 first Indian to win a gold medal in the Asian Games which he won in the first Asian Games held💲 at New Delhi in 1951 in the 100- and 200-meter categories.
[88] Christine Brown, Stephie D'Souza, Violet Peters, Mary D'Souza gave💲 India its first women's athletics gold medal when they won 4 × 100 m relay in 1954 Asian Games but💲 current Asian record is held by Priyanka Pawar, Tintu Luka, Mandeep Kaur, Machettira Raju Poovamma when they won Women's 4💲 × 400 metres relay at 2014 Asian Games clocking 3:28:68.
Kamaljeet Sandhu was the first Indian female athlete to win individual💲 gold medal at any Asian games by winning 400m track event at 1970 Asian Games.
[89] Sunita Rani holds the current💲 Asian record in 1500 m track event winning at Busan 2002 Asian Games clocking 4:06:03.
Madhurjya Borah, an Indian triathlete holds💲 the silver medal for the South Asian Triathlon Championship.
Anu Vaidyanathan, an Indian triathlete, is the first Asian to compete in💲 Ultraman.
[90] In May 2016, Arunaabh Shah from Delhi became the first Indian male and the youngest Indian to finish Ultraman,💲 at Ultraman Australia.[91]
Neeraj Chopra became first India athlete to win the prestigious Diamond League trophy at Zürich in 2022.
[92] He💲 did this by throwing javelin 88.44 m away.
[93] On 24 July 2022, he won the silver medal in the 2022💲 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA; he is the only athlete from India to have done so.[94]
In the 2022 Commonwealth💲 Games, Avinash Sable and Priyanka Goswami won the first ever silver medals for India in the games' history and in💲 any major multinational events in the 3000m steeplechase and 10,000m racewalking events respectively.
[95]Badminton [ edit ]
P V Sindhu and Thomas💲 Cup winning team Indian shuttler Sindhu, Bronze, Silver Olympic medalist, world number one and winner of many international championships Indian💲 shuttlers, after winning their first ever Thomas Cup 2022.
Indian badminton players
Badminton is played in India and is one of the💲 popular sports in the nation.
People often play it as a recreational activity.
It is most popular in South India, with the💲 region having multiple badminton academies and coaching facilities; this is why many accomplished shuttlers are from South India.
The Badminton Association💲 of India is the national governing body of badminton in India.
It organises multiple national tournaments.
In 2022, the Indian Badminton team💲 created history by winning first time the Thomas Cup, a prestigious badminton multinational tournament.[96]P.V.
Sindhu, Srikanth Kidambi, and the doubles pair💲 of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty are ranked amongst the top-10 in the current BWF world rankings.
Prakash Padukone was the first player💲 from India to achieve the world number one spot in the game, he was winner of All England Open Badminton💲 Championships in 1980 which later won by Pullela Gopichand in 2001.
Srikanth Kidambi became the second male player to make it💲 to the top spot in April 2018.
[97] In 2015 Saina Nehwal achieved world number one BWF ranking, and she is💲 the first ever Indian badminton player who won a medal at the Olympics, achieved this feat in 2012.[98][99]
Sindhu is the💲 first Indian to become the Badminton World Champion, which she achieved in 2019, and the only badminton player from India💲 to win two consecutive medals at the Olympic Games, in 2016 she won a silver and bronze in 2020.[100][101]
The most💲 successful doubles player from India is Jwala Gutta, who is the only Indian to have been ranked in the top-10💲 in two categories.
She peaked at number 6 with Valiyaveetil Diju in mixed doubles and at number 10 with Ashwini Ponnappa💲 in women's doubles.[102]
Other successful players include, Aparna Popat, Syed Modi, Chetan Anand, Parupalli Kashyap, Prannoy Kumar, Sameer Verma, Lakshya Sen,💲 Ashwini Ponnappa and N.Sikki Reddy.
India has also won twelve medals at the BWF World Championships, with Sindhu being the only💲 Indian badminton player to have won the gold, which she achieved in 2019.
At the BWF World Junior Championships, Saina Nehwal💲 is the only gold medalist for India, which she achieved in 2008.
At the Badminton Asia Junior Championships, P.V.
Sindhu and Lakshya💲 Sen are the only gold medalists for India, winning in their respective categories in 2012 and 2018 respectively.
Gopichand Badminton Academy💲 of former player Pullela Gopichand is best badminton institute in India, players such as Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu have been💲 students of it.
Boxing [ edit ]
Boxing is a highly profiled sport in India, majority of population unaware about the sport,💲 however the nation regularly win medalz at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Indian Boxing Federation is the national governing body💲 of the sport.
Indian boxers have achieved considerable success in amateur boxing but not in professional boxing.
In November 2007, India's Mary💲 Kom won the best boxer title and secured a hat-trick of titles.
During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Vijender Singh won a💲 bronze medal in the middleweight division, and Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar qualified for the quarterfinals.
Akhil Kumar, Jitender Kumar, A.L.
Lakra,💲 and Dinesh Kumar each won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Championship.
India's lone female boxer, Kom, won the bronze💲 medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
[citation needed] Most of the players who won medal in this game are from💲 North India and Indian Armed Forces, rest of India do not has training institutes.
The nation don't have adequate exposure of💲 the sport through TV.
Field Hockey [ edit ]
Field Hockey is a popular sport in India.
Until the mid-1970s, India men's team💲 dominated international field hockey, winning even Olympic gold medals and won the 1975 Men's Hockey World Cup.
Since then, barring a💲 gold medal at the 1980 Olympics, and a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India's performance in field hockey has💲 been dismal, as Australia, Netherlands and Germany improved.
Its decline is also due to the change in rules of the game,💲 introduction of artificial turf, and internal politics in Indian field hockey bodies.
The popularity of field hockey has also declined massively💲 parallel to the decline of the Indian hockey team.
Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, the standard of Indian hockey greatly💲 deteriorated, with a low point occurring in 2008, after the Men's team failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics and💲 finishing last in the 2012 Olympics.
However, since the mid-2010s the men's team has undergone a gradual revival at the regional,💲 continental, and global stage, becoming runners up at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and winning 2014 Asian Games gold.
Despite bowing out💲 at the quarter final stage of the 2016 Rio Olympics following a loss to Belgium, India would capture the 2017💲 Men's Hockey Asia Cup title, restoring consistent dominance in Asia.
A marked Olympic improvement was witnessed at the 2020 games in💲 Tokyo, when India captured the bronze medal, signifying the first medal and highest placing at the tournament in 41 years💲 - since 1980.
Currently, the Indian men's team is 5th in the rankings of the Fédération Internationale de Hockey sur Gazon💲 (FIH, English:International Hockey Federation), the international governing body of field hockey and indoor field hockey.[103]
The Women's team first participated at💲 the Summer Olympics in 1980 and achieved fourth place.
The first golden moment for the team was in 1982 at the💲 Asian Games.
Since then not much of happening moments in the team history, though in 2016 after 34 years, it is💲 a little hope when Indian women's team qualified for the Summer Olympics and they went on to win the 2017💲 Women's Hockey Asia Cup claiming the Asian dominance after 2004.
India Women's team failed to win any medal in the Women's💲 Hockey World Cup.
The present team is ranked 10th by the Fédération Internationale de Hockey.
[103] India has hosted three Men's Hockey💲 World Cups–one in 1982 in Mumbai, another in 2010 in Delhi, where they finished fifth and eighth respectively, and the💲 third at Bhubaneswar in 2018.
India also hosted the annual Hockey Champions Trophy in 1996, 2005 2014 and 2016.
Until 2008, the💲 Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) was the apex body for hockey in the country.
However, following revelations of corruption and other scandals💲 in the IHF, the federation was dissolved and de-recognised, and a new apex body for Indian hockey called Hockey India💲 (HI) was formed on 20 May 2009, with support from the IOA and former hockey players.
HI, recognised by the International💲 Hockey Federation (FIH), has the sole mandate to govern and conduct all activities for both men's and women's field hockey💲 in India.
Although the IHF was reinstated in 2010,[104] it is not recognised by the FIH.
The IHF conducts a franchise-based tournament💲 called World Series Hockey (WSH), with its first season conducted in 2012.
However, it is not approved by HI or the💲 FIH.
HI also conducts a franchise-based tournament called the Hockey India League (HIL).
Its first season was held in 2013, It is💲 inspired from IPL.
It is recognised by the FIH, which has also decided to provide a 30-day window for the forthcoming💲 seasons so all top players can participate.
Football was introduced to India during the British colonial period.
The All India Football Federation💲 is national governing body for football in India.
It is also known by its abbreviation 'AIFF'.
It is affiliated to FIFA, the💲 international governing body of football and Asian Football Federation (AFF).
Although India has never played in any FIFA World Cups.
India did💲 qualify for the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, however it did not participate because the team was not allowed💲 to play barefoot.
Another excuse that was cited was that the AIFF did not have money to travel to Brazil that💲 time.
[105][106] The 'barefoot' excuse is false according to a 19 July 2011 Los Angeles Times article.
FIFA was ready to give💲 money to Indian team to travel to Brazil for World Cup, so money was not a problem, some journalist who💲 cover football said in that article, Indian football federation wasn't aware how big is FIFA football World cup that time,💲 and considered it as another event and use to consider Olympics biggest tournament, also there was issue in team selection.
India💲 did not participate because FIFA did not allowed to play barefoot, it was just a lie to cover-up failure of💲 AIFF.
It was a 'historical blunder' done by AIFF according to a book 'Box to box: 75 years of the Indian💲 football team' authored by sports journalist Jaydeep Basu, in his book he reveled that, Indian football team did not play💲 1950 FIFA World Cup because, ignorance, short-sightedness, lack of confidence in the players and misplaced priorities on behalf of the💲 All India Football Federation'.[106][107]
In the 1948 Summer Olympics, Indian team drew great attention of the world by stopping France on💲 2–1.
India lost that match.[s][106]
India was an Asian powerhouse in football in the 1950s and 1960s.
During this golden era, India created💲 history as the first Asian team to reach semi-finals in an Olympic football tournament in 1956 Summer Olympics at Melbourne💲 and Neville D'Souza became the first Asian and Indian to score a hat-trick (record remains unbeaten) in an Olympic match.
[108][109]💲 The men's team have won two gold medals at the Asian Games in 1951 and 1962.
[110] It finished as runners-up💲 in the 1964 AFC Asian Cup.
But later on, the standard of Indian football started to decline due to lack of💲 professionalism and fitness culture.
India currently ranks 101th in the FIFA rankings as of 21 June 2023.
It has won multiple editions💲 of SAFF Championships, thus a top team in South Asia.
[111] In 2023, it won Intercontinental Cup by defeating Lebanon in💲 the final.
Football is, nevertheless, widely popular both as a spectator sport, and as a participation sport in some parts of💲 the country such as Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka, Goa and the Northeast.
The India national football team and India women's national💲 football team represents India in all FIFA, Asian Football Federation and international, friendly tournaments in men's and women's football respectively.
The💲 Indian Super League and I-League are deemed as top-tier football league in India, earlier is most attended by audience in💲 stadium and witnessed on TV.
In June 1937, at the Army Headquarters, Shimla, the AIFF was formed at a meeting of💲 the representatives of football associations of six regions where the game was very popular in those days.
It is the governing💲 body for football in India.
Other major domestic competitions for men's football include the I-League second division in the Indian League💲 System and the annual knock-out style Federation Cup.
For women's football, the India women's football championship.
European leagues, such as the English💲 Premier League, Spanish La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, which are very popular among Indian football fans, especially in💲 metropolitan cities.
[citation needed] Other European top leagues such as UEFA Europa League, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A and France's Ligue💲 1 are broadcast on television in India.
The nation has hosted 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, this was the first FIFA💲 junior football world cup held in India.
[112] The matches were held from 6 to 28 October in arenas of New💲 Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, Navi Mumbai, Guwahati and Margao.[113]
In club football, rivalry between Mohan Bagan and East Bengal FC of West💲 Bengal in notable, it is dubbed as Kolkata Derby and viewers attend it in huge numbers.
The rivalry between India-Pakistan in💲 football also generate interest in fans.
Football is most popular in Indian states such as Mizoram, Manipur, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam,💲 Tripura, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Goa and Tamil Nadu etc.
As of 2021, in ISL teams, 25% players was from Mizoram and Manipur💲 states of Northeast India.
Most of the players of India national football team are from these northeast states.
It have significant number💲 of football clubs such as Aizawl FC, Shillong Lajong FC, Neroca FC etc.
, which play in I-League.
Northeast states are considered💲 as breeding ground of football players for Indian football team, ISL and I-League.[114]
Beach Soccer [ edit ]
India national beach soccer💲 team represents India in international level tournaments.
The AIFFis responsible to govern and develop the game in the nation.
[115][116]Futsal [ edit💲 ]
The AIFF is the governing body of Futsal in India.
India national futsal team represents the country in international level tournaments💲 and games.
Futsal Association of India is said, is the governing body of this sport for state level Futsal.[117]Golf [ edit💲 ]
Golf is a growing sport in India.
It is especially popular among the wealthier classes, but has not yet caught on💲 with others due to the expenses involved in playing.
The most successful Indian golfers are Jeev Milkha Singh and Anirban Lahiri.
Singh💲 won three titles on the European Tour, four on the Japan Golf Tour, and six on the Asian Tour.
His highest💲 world ranking was 28 March 2009.
Singh has won the Asian Tour Order of Merit twice.
Meanwhile, Lahiri has two European Tour💲 wins and seven Asian Tour wins.
He qualified for the 2015 Presidents Cup.
Other Indians who have won the Asian Tour Order💲 of Merit are Jyoti Randhawa in 2002 (the first Indian to do so), and Arjun Atwal, who went on in💲 2010 to become the first Indian-born player to become a member of the US-based PGA Tour and win the 2010💲 Wyndham Championship.
In golf at the Asian Games, India's men's golf team won gold at the 1982 Asian Games, and silver💲 at the 2006 Asian Games.
Lakshman Singh won the individual gold at the 1982 Asian Games.
There are numerous golf courses all💲 over India, and a Professional Golf Tour of India.
The main tournament is the Hero Indian Open, co-sanctioned by the Asian💲 Tour and European Tour.
In Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Aditi Ashok finished at fourth position in women's Golf Competition.
It was best ever💲 performance by an Indian golfer at Olympics.
Gymnastics [ edit ]
Dipa Karmakar, India's first Gymnast who participated in Olympics, finished on💲 4th position in Rio Olympics on her Olympic debut
Gymnastics is not widely participated in India due to lack of facilities,💲 exposure, encouragement, championships, sponsorships and coaching.
But the sport gained headlines after the historic performance of Dipa Karmakar in the 2016💲 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she reached the 4th position in the final in her debut.
She missed the💲 Olympic bronze medal by just 0.
15 points to Giulia Steingrubber of Switzerland.
Karmakar's success made her well known in India and💲 encouraged new girls and boys to participate in gymnastic.[118]
The Gymnastics Federation of India is the official governing body for gymnastics💲 sport in India.
It organises various tournaments around the year, it is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports💲 of India.[119]
Ashish Kumar won the first-ever medal in gymnastics for India, a bronze in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, he also💲 won a silver medal in the Men's vault in it.[120]
It was in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, that Dipa💲 Karmakar from Tripura won the bronze medal in the Women's vault final.
Her second vault, the most difficult vault with a💲 D-score of 7, the Produnova vault, named after famous Yelena Produnova of Russia, also known as the vault of death💲 due to its difficulty and likelihood of injury, which she executed with a score of 15.1 (D-7, Ex- 8.
1) which💲 contributed to her winning the bronze medal.
[121] With this attempt she became fifth gymnast to ever execute the Produnova just💲 after legendary gymnast Oksana Chusovitina who executed multiples times.
In October 2015, Karmakar became the first Indian gymnast to qualify for💲 a final stage at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Later in 2016 when she qualified for the Rio Olympics, she became💲 first Indian gymnast to do so and also hours after her qualification at 2016 Gymnastics Olympic Test Event she clinched💲 gold medal in Women's vault event stunning Oksana Chusovitina with her prudunova again who came second to her.
[122] On 6💲 July 2016, FIG honored Dipa by naming her World Class Gymnast.
[123] At the Rio Olympics she achieved fourth place in💲 vaults.
After a long break due to injury when she ran for vaults and landed with a gold at World Challenge💲 Cup series.
[124]Tennis [ edit ]
Vijay Amritraj and Leander Paes First professional tennis player of India, Vijay Amritraj , he was💲 a quality singles player and reached QF of Wimbledon Leander Paes, 1996 Olympics ' bronze medalist, multiple mixed doubles grand💲 slams winner.
Legendry tennis players of India
Tennis is a popular sport among Indians in urban areas.
Tennis has gained popularity after the💲 success of Vijay Amritraj, he was India's first and so far only singles player who reached the quarterfinals of the💲 Wimbledon Championships.
He reached two times to the quarterfinals.
Amritraj was notable player in the 1960s, 1970s.
He is the first Indian singles💲 tennis player who was in top 50 in the WTA rankings.
Once he was world number 16 singles player.
His brother also💲 was a professional tennis player.[125]
The All India Tennis Association, is the national governing body for tennis in India.
It is affiliated💲 to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the governing body for tennis in the world.
The ATP 250 Maharashtra Open was organised💲 in Pune till 2022.
[t] Stan Wawrinka was its most successful player,Rafael Nadal has also participated in it.
In Grand Slams, Indians💲 are not successful in singles as they are in doubles, India is considered good in Tennis's latter category, It has💲 won multiple Tennis Grand Slams in men's doubles and mixed doubles.
Leander Paes won a singles bronze medal at the 1996💲 Olympics, he have won recorded number of mixed doubles in Wimbledon.
Since the late 1990s India has had impressive results in💲 Grand Slam doubles, Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have won many men's doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam titles.
Sania Mirza was💲 the most notable Indian woman tennis player, having won a WTA title and breaking into the Top 30 WTA rankings,💲 also winning three Grand Slam doubles events, the first at Wimbledon in 2015.
In singles Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri got💲 some success in ATP Tour.
Yuki was the Australian Open junior singles champion in 2009.
Rohan Bopanna has won two mixed doubles💲 titles.
On the women's side, Ankita Raina and Karman Kaur Thandi were in the top 200 in 2018.
Shooting [ edit ]
The💲 National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), founded in 1951 with a view to promote and popularize the shooting sports in💲 India, is the governing body for shooting sports in India.
The country has won many medals internationally in various forms of💲 this sport.
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, former Rifle shooter, He won first ever Olympic medal, a Silver in shooting
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won💲 the first Olympic medal in shooting for India.
Rathore won silver in the 2004 Summer Olympics in double trap, and has💲 also won 3 commonwealth gold medals and one silver medal and a silver and bronze medal in the Asian Games.
[126]💲 Later many shooters won medals in Commonwealth games, South Asian games etc.
Abhinav Bindra won the first Olympic gold medal in💲 shooting at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
It was the first individual Olympic gold medal by an Indian in Olympics.[127]
Gagan Narang won💲 Bronze medal 2012 Summer Olympics in 10 meter Air rifle shooting event.
He won 4 gold medals in Commonwealth Games of💲 2006 at Melbourne, among these two he won with Abhinav Bindra in team event.[128]
Weightlifting [ edit ]
Karnam Malleswari, Indian former💲 weightlifter.
She won first ever Olympic medal in Weightlifting for India, also is the first Indian woman who won an Olympic💲 medal
Karnam Malleswari won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, making her the first Indian woman to💲 win an Olympic medal.
[129] The headquarters of the Indian Weightlifting Federation is in New Delhi.
The federation is affiliated with the💲 Indian Olympic Association (Delhi), and is also a member of the Asian Weightlifting Federation (Tehran) and International Weightlifting Federation (IWF,💲 Budapest).
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, Indian weightlifter, Mirabai won Olympic silver in 2020 Summer Olympics, she is the first and only weightlifter💲 from India to do so
In 2021, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won silver medal in 49 kg category in 2020 Summer Olympics💲 held in Tokyo, Japan.
In 2022, she won Gold in weightlifting at Birmingham Commonwealth games.
Wrestling [ edit ]
Considered one of the💲 most ancient and oldest sports in the world, wrestling in India has a glorious past.
The sport of wrestling began its💲 journey in India several centuries ago, during the Middle Ages.
Wrestling is among the most prestigious and oldest events in the💲 Olympic Games.
It was included in the Olympics in 708 BC.
In ancient times, wrestling in India was mainly used as a💲 way to stay physically fit.
It was also used as a military exercise without any weapons.
Wrestling in India is also known💲 as dangal, and it is the basic form of a wrestling tournament.
In India, wrestling is mostly known as Malla-Yuddha.
Wrestling was💲 mentioned in ancient times, found in the Sanskrit epic of Indian history, Mahabharata.
One of the premier characters in Mahabharata, Bhima,💲 was considered a great wrestler.
Other great wrestlers included Jarasandha, Duryodhana, and Karna.
Another Indian epic, Ramayana, also mentions wrestling in India,💲 describing Hanuman as one of the greatest wrestlers of that time.
The 13th-century Malla Purana references a group of Gujarati Brahmin💲 wrestlers known as Jyesthimallas.
Table Tennis [ edit ]
Manika Batra at 2019 Commonwealth Table Tennis championships
Table tennis is a popular indoor💲 recreation sport in India, which has caught on in states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
The Table Tennis Federation of💲 India is the official governing body of the sport.
India, which is ranked 30th in the world, has produced a single💲 player ranked in the top 50, Sharat Kamal.[130]
Aquatic Sports [ edit ]
The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) is the national💲 governing body for aquatic sports in India.
Legally, it is a non-profit association registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act,💲 1861.
[131] The Federation holds elections for its office bearers every four years.
[132] The SFI currently oversees competition in the sports💲 of swimming, masters swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, high diving, and water polo.
It is affiliated to FINA[133] and the Asia Swimming💲 Federation (ASF).[134]
Sajan Prakash and Srihari Natraj became the first-ever Indian swimmers to qualify for the Olympic Games (2020 Olympics) by💲 breaching the A standard time.
Basketball [ edit ]
People in urban India follow the sport, probably played in almost every urban💲 private school, although very few people follow it professionally.
In rural India nearly all the people are not aware of it.
India💲 has both men's and women's national basketball teams.
Both teams have hired head coaches who have worked extensively with NBA players💲 and now aim to popularise the game in India.
[135] Satnam Singh Bhamara officially marks the first player from India to💲 be selected in the NBA by being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks as the 52nd pick of the 2015 NBA💲 draft, as well as the first player to be drafted straight out of high school as a postgraduate.
The Young Cagers,💲 as the national team is nicknamed, made one Olympic appearance in basketball and appeared 20 times in the Asian Championship.
India💲 is currently ranked 58th in the world in basketball.
The India national team had its best result at the 1975 Asian💲 Championship, when the team finished ahead of teams including the Philippines, one of Asia's basketball strongholds.
Internationally, one of the most💲 recognised Indian basketball players has been Sozhasingarayer Robinson.
[136] The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) is the governing body for basketball💲 in India.
Affiliated to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) since 1936, India has one of Asia's longest basketball traditions.[137]
India's women had💲 their best result at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship for Women when they finished sixth.
The team has several internationally known💲 players including Geethu Anna Jose, who was invited to tryouts for the WNBA in 2011.[138]
Sports18 air NBA in the nation💲 and DD Sports air its old game highlights.
Indian National Basketball League operates here.
Volleyball [ edit ]
Volleyball is a popular recreation💲 sport played all over India, both in rural and urban areas.
[dubious – discuss]India is ranked fifth in Asia, and 27th💲 in the world.
In the youth and junior levels, India came in second in the 2003 World Youth Championships.
The Indian senior💲 men's team is ranked 46th in the world.
A major problem for the sport is the lack of sponsors.[139]
Canoeing and Kayaking💲 [ edit ]
India has won one bronze medal in canoeing at the Asian Games.
Flat water and sea kayaking
Indian flat water💲 kayakers are an emerging powerhouse on the Asian circuit.
Outside of professional flat water kayaking, there is very limited recreational kayaking.
The💲 potential to generate interest in flat water kayaking is held by leisure resorts located near the sea or other water💲 bodies.
Indian tourists tend to consider kayaking a one-time activity, rather than a sport to be pursued.
Whitewater kayaking
Enthusiasts of whitewater kayaking💲 are concentrated in the north towards the Himalayas, with some in the south in Bangalore in Karnataka.
Most of these enthusiasts💲 are or were whitewater raft guides who took to the sport of whitewater kayaking.
Some of the prominent whitewater kayakers include💲 Abhinav Kala, Shalabh Gahlaut, and John Pollard.
Many of them have notched first descents (similar to climbing ascents) on rivers in💲 India and Nepal.
"Bangalore Kayakers" or "Southern River Runners" are India's first amateur group of white water kayakers.
Based out of Bangalore,💲 they explore rivers around Western Ghats.
[140] The lure for most of these participants is adventure.
Whitewater kayaking in India allows for💲 exploration of places where, literally, no human has been before.
Gear availability is a problem that plagues kayakers.
While the global designs💲 for whitewater boats and paddles change annually, Indian kayakers have to pay high fees if they want to import any💲 kind of gear, or they have to buy used gear in Nepal.
More often than not, one will see Indian kayaking💲 guides riding down the river in a Perception Amp, Piroutte or Dancer designs, while the kayakers from abroad ride the💲 river in their new design, planing hull, centred-volume kayaks from Riot, Pyranha, or Wave Sport.
Kayaking India groups on Facebook are💲 good resources for kayakers in India.
Rowing [ edit ]
India's history in rowing dates back to the British era.
The country's first💲 rowing club, the Calcutta Rowing Club was founded in 1858.
The Rowing Federation of India administers the sport in the country.
India's💲 first ever Asian Games gold medal was won by Bajrang Lal Takhar in 2010[141] but the country has never won💲 an Olympic medal in the sport.
Sailing [ edit ]
Sailing as a sport in India can be traced back to the💲 first recorded race being sailed on 6 February 1830 in the western city of Bombay.
Till the time the British left💲 India in 1947, there were five active sailing clubs located at Bombay, Madras, Bangalore, Barrackpore and Nainital.
[142] Today, there are💲 clubs located in Kerala, Pune, Goa, Hyderabad, and Bhopal.
[143] The Yachting Association of India is the governing body for sailing,💲 windsurfing and motorboating in India.
The Yachting Association of India was formally constituted on 15 May 1960.
Cycling [ edit ]
The history💲 of cycling in India dates back to 1938, and the Cycling Federation of India governs the sport.
Though cycling is unknown💲 as a professional sport in India, it is popular as a common recreational sport and a way to keep fit.
Children's💲 and younger people do cycling as recreational activity and as play.
Some adults use bicycles to travel.
Presently cycling is not considered💲 as a commercial professional sport in the nation.
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is becoming a popular sport in India.
Uttarakhand tourism development annually💲 organise Uttrakhand Himalyan MTB tournament in which 50 mountain bikers participate in 884 km long race, which runs for a💲 week.
It is Asia's longest mountain bike race, bikers around the world take part in this mountain race.[144]
For the last six💲 years, Mtb himachal, a hardcore endurance event, has been organised regularly by Himalayan Adventure Sports & Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA),💲 a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
A number of national and international riders participate, including Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police💲 (ITBP), and a number of young and energetic mountain biking individual riders from cities including Pune, Bangalore, Delhi and Chandigarh.
Last💲 year[when?], the Government of Sikkim (Department of Tourism) introduced its own mountain biking race, with Southeast Asia's biggest prize money.
The💲 second edition saw 48 professional participants from around the globe.[citation needed]
Road Cycling/Touring
The Tour of Nilgiris is a major non-competitive and💲 non-commercial touring event in South Asia that covers 1,000 kilometres in under 10 days.
[145] The Tour of Nilgiris (TfN), India's💲 first Day Touring Cycle Ride, was born in December 2008 with the twin objectives of promoting bicycling as an activity💲 and spreading awareness about the bio-diversity, flora and fauna of the Nilgiris.
It soon grew into something a lot more, with💲 an eclectic riding community in 2008 wanting to participate.
The community soon assembled, made plans, chose a route and realised they💲 would need a framework to support such a large group of people.
So they recruited sponsors to mitigate costs as well💲 as popularise the Tour and the cause of popularising cycling as a viable and sustainable means of travel.
Ever since its💲 first edition, the TfN has stayed true to the Community of Cyclists in India by being a Tour for the💲 Community, Of the Community and By the Community.
It has grown in size, stature and visibility.
From 40 riders in the first💲 edition, it has grown to 100 cyclists in 2013.[tone]
The tour has grown bigger and the routes tougher, allowing cyclists to💲 test their endurance, enjoy the biodiversity of the Nilgiris covering the southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
For the💲 racing aficionados, there are racing segments on the tour with colour coded jerseys, recognition and prizes.
TfN as it is lovingly💲 called is pushing cycling to new frontiers with more and more interested cyclists, applying for the tour.
The tour has acquired💲 quite a name, and currently about 25% of registrations are selected for the tour by the organisers.
[citation needed][tone]
Equestrian sports [💲 edit ]
India has a wide following in various equestrian sports, including show jumping, eventing, dressage, endurance riding and tent pegging.
Supported💲 by the Equestrian Federation of India, eventing is the most popular of the five, with teams representing the country at💲 most Asian Games, winning a bronze medal in the 2002 and 2006 games.
India has been represented at the Olympics twice,💲 by Wing Commander I.J.
Lamba, and Imtiaz Anees.
Judo [ edit ]
Judo is played by few in India.
It is not widely known.
The💲 first written record about judo in India in Kodokan is about demonstrations and coaching of Judo by Shinzo Tagaki arranged💲 at Shantiniketan in 1929 by Rabindranath Tagore.
[146] The Judo Federation of India was formed in 1965.[citation needed]
As of 31 October💲 2022, India have 11 commonwealth games medals in Judo.
Indian Judoka Tulika Maan and Sushila Devi each won a silver Vijay💲 Kumar Yadav won a Bronze in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
[147][148][149]Taekwondo [ edit ]
Taekwondo in India is administered by the Taekwondo💲 Federation of India which was constituted in July 2019 consisting of a five-member ad hoc committee with Namdev Shirgaonkar as💲 chairman with a mandate to carry out the election procedures within a stipulated time-frame.
[150] Surendra Bhandari won a bronze medal💲 in taekwondo at the 2002 Asian Games.
Taekwondo is not widely played in India.
Few actors Neetu Chandra, Akshay Kumar and Isha💲 Koppikar said to have black belts in this sport.[citation needed]
Indian athlete performed well at 2019 South Asian Games, they won💲 total six medals including 3 golds in Taekwondo event, Rudali Barua (over 73 kg), Jarnel Singh (under 74 kg) and💲 Latika Bhandari (under 53 kg) won gold medals each, Ganjot won silver in 86 kg category.
[151] Some open events are💲 also held.
[152]Fencing [ edit ]
Fencing started in India with the foundation of the Fencing Association of India in 1974.C.A.
Bhavani Devi💲 claimed a spot in the women's sabre in the 2020 Olympics as one of the two highest-ranked fencers vying for💲 qualification from Asia and Oceania in the FIE Adjusted Official Rankings and became the first Indian fencer to qualify for💲 Olympic games.
[153]Karate [ edit ]
Karate in India is administered by the Karate India Organization.
India has produced many accomplished karatekas like💲 Aniket Gupta, Deepika Dhiman, Sunil Rathee, Supriya Jatav and Gaurva Sindhiya.
The 2015 Commonwealth Karate Games were held in Delhi, India.
Handball💲 [ edit ]
Handball is played by some in the nation, at the local level, but has not yet made an💲 impact at the national level.
India's handball team was formed & began playing on 27 April 1989, although it hasn't yet💲 made an impact on the world stage, at the international level or the World Cup.
The Handball Federation of India (HFI)💲 manages handball in India.
[154] HFI established Premier Handball League.
Baseball and Softball [ edit ]
Baseball has started to gain popularity in💲 India.
Softball is played in school and at the university level.
Two Indian pitchers were selected by the "Million Dollar Arm" competition💲 to play in the United States.
A talent hunt-style competition conducted by Major League Baseball to find baseball talent in India💲 found the teenagers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, who were taken to the US and received professional coaching.
[155] These two💲 players were selected to play for Pittsburgh Pirates minor league organisations.
Rinku Singh played for the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian💲 Baseball League for the competition's inaugural 2010–11 season.
Rugby [ edit ]
Some Indian sporting clubs have begun to embrace the game.
Rugby💲 union in India is the national federation of the sport in the nation.
India national rugby union team, India national rugby💲 sevens team and India national rugby league team represents the nation in Rugby union, Rugby sevens and Rugby league internationally💲 respectively.
Rugby union was played in Khelo India University Games 2022, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune won the final game.
Non-Olympic sports [ edit💲 ]Chess [ edit ]
Viswanathan Anand , Grandmaster and thrice world champion Humpy Koneru, world ranked number 3
The game is strongly💲 popular in Tamil Nadu, Calcutta many Grandmasters have been emerged from earlier region, Viswanathan Anand is the most popular among💲 them, he is first grandmaster from the country, first time he became World chess champion in 2007, also won it💲 later twice.[156][157]
The Indian Chess Championship was held first in 1955, since 1971 it played annually.
It is widely believe that the💲 sport is originated in India.[157][156]
On 12 June 2023 Divya Deshmukh, the current national champion won gold medal at the Asian💲 Continental Women's chess championship.
[158] As of 25 February 2022, India has 73 grandmasters and 7 players in top hundred in💲 the world.
As per All India Chess Federation, the national federation of the game, there are 50 thousand registered players and💲 over one million play it in the country.
Many Indian players have own tournaments internationally.
[157] Koneru Humpy is most prominent women💲 player who holds rank 3 in the world.
[156]Cricket [ edit ]
Sachin Tendulkar is widely considered as one of the greatest💲 batter of all time, In a career of 24 years, he has created many batting records
Cricket has a long history💲 in India, having been introduced in the country during British rule.
It is the most popular spectator sport in India.
[159] India💲 is a cricket powerhouse, having won ICC ODI World Cup twice, ICC T20 World Cup once.
[u] The governing body for💲 this sport in this nation is the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
It is the richest cricket board💲 in the world.
[160] Cricket is played at the local, national, and international level, and has huge fan following from people💲 in most parts of the nation.
BCCI controls professional level, hard ball cricket But amateur cricket does not have any governing💲 body, which usually played with rubber ball.
India national cricket team represents India in international cricket.
It is colloquially known as "Team💲 India".
It played its first Test against England at Lord's in 1932, led by C.K.Nayudu.
It is one of the top teams💲 in this sport.
[161] Indian women's national cricket team represents India in women's international cricket.
The main rival of Team India is💲 Pakistani cricket team.
[v]However in recent times, it has gained other, including Australia, South Africa and England.[dubious – discuss]
This sport generates💲 high TV viewership during international and Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.
India does not have a national game.
[162] The governing body💲 for cricket in India, the BCCI, was formed in December 1928 and is based in Mumbai.
[160] IPL is the richest💲 cricket league in the world.
[w] Top players around the world annually come to India to participate in it.
BCCI annually organises💲 IPL in Summer across the country.
[x] There are many cricket broadcasting television channels in India such as Star Sports 1,💲 Sony Ten 1, Star Sports 2 etc.
and mobile, TV applications such as Disney+ Hotstar, Sony Liv, Fancode, Voot.
India will host💲 the 2023 and 2031 ICC ODI Cricket World Cups.[164]
India has a plethora of cricket stadiums.
The country has the biggest stadium💲 in the world, the Narendra Modi Stadium, which has 132,000 seats for viewers.[y]
India has hosted or co-hosted many major international💲 cricket tournaments, including the 1987 Cricket World Cup (co-hosted with Pakistan), the 1996 Cricket World Cup (co-hosted with Pakistan and💲 Sri Lanka), the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2011 Cricket World Cup (co-hosted with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh).
The India💲 national cricket team has won major tournaments, including the 1983 Cricket World Cup in England, the 2007 ICC World Twenty20💲 in South Africa, the 2011 Cricket World Cup (which they won by beating Sri Lanka in the final at home),💲 and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, and has shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka.
[z] It had also💲 held the position of the top team in Tests.
[165] In 2021, Team India reached to the final of the inaugural💲 ICC World Test Championship and remained runner-up after losing against New Zealand.[166]
The India women's cricket team remained runner-up in 2005💲 and 2017 ICC women's cricket world cup.[aa][168][169]
The biggest domestic competitions include Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, Irani Trophy, Vijay💲 Hazare Trophy and the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy.
BCCI organised IPL generates atmosphere like a carnivals–fair annually in April - May💲 in summer season.
Most of the fans prefer to witness games of the ICC tournaments, IPL.
But the domestic cricket games of💲 Ranji trophy, Vijay Hazare trophy and Duleep Trophy etc.
do not get audience on TV or in stadiums.
Backyard cricket
It is a💲 popular format of cricket played in India.
In India, the game is called as Bat ball , while in England and💲 Australia it is called as 'Backyard cricket'.
Kids play it with a plastic or rubber ball.
The game has a variety of💲 rules.
Due to the unavailability of large grounds, kids play it in small spaces such as the road, in backyard, in💲 front of house.
The game does not have fixed rules or a fixed number of players.
The participants decide the rules before💲 the start of the play.
If there is no ball available for the game, players often play with a plastic bottle,💲 and if they don't have a bat, then they play with a wooden stick.
Some usual rules of this game in💲 India : Batman is out if he hits a six, outside the backyard, outside the compound, on someone's roof etc.
Sometimes💲 one-bounce catch given out, if the players agree to it before initiating the game.
French cricket
It is a popular children's game💲 in India.
It is similar to cricket.
In India it is called as 'Catch Catch' or 'Bat ball', while in Australia it💲 is called as 'French cricket'.
Kids often play it in the backyard, in front of a house, on the road etc.
In💲 it, the batsman holds his bat nearly horizontally, and pointing towards the bowler.
As per the rules, the bowler must bowl💲 full tosses (non-bouncing deliveries) onto the batsman's bat, with the batsman required to hit the ball in the air, and💲 the bowler and fielders then trying to catch the ball.
If the ball is caught, whoever caught it gets the chance💲 to bat.
In the game, there are no stumps, and kids play with a plastic or rubber ball.
Usually there is no💲 limit on the number of overs and the batsman can bat until he gets out.
Catch, Catch-Catch or playing catch, is💲 one of the most basic children's games.
It is a popular game among children in India.
It is a game often played💲 between children or between a parent and child, wherein the participants throw a ball, flying disc or similar object back💲 and forth to each other.
The game improves the hand-eye coordination of a child.
Kabaddi [ edit ]
Kabaddi is one of the💲 most popular sports in India
Kabaddi is an indigenous sport in India.
Traditionally played on rough grounds.
The Pro Kabaddi League is a💲 notable Kabaddi league in India.
It is organised annually in various spots of the nation.
Star Sports, Disney+ Hotstar airs it on💲 TV and online respectively.
India has won gold in kabaddi in all Asian Games, excluding the 2018 Asian Games, where they💲 won bronze.
The four forms of kabaddi recognised by the Kabaddi Federation in India are Amar, Sanjeevni, Gaminee and Punjabi rules💲 Kabaddi.
India won the Kabaddi World Championship in 2007, beating Iran 29–19.
[170][unreliable source?]Squash [ edit ]Dipika Pallikal
The game of Squash is💲 not well known in the country.
It have less exposure and has no countrywide infrastructure, although some Indians have achieved success💲 at international levels.
Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) is the national federation of Squash in India.
SRFI annually organise 'SRFI National💲 Squash championship', its 78-season has held as of 2022.
SRFI also organised a tour tournament.
Joshna Chinappa is 18 time nationals winner💲 in NSC.[171]
The women's and men's Squash team represents India in international tournaments.
In 2016 South Asian Games India men and women💲 team won gold medals.
In Squash world cup 2023, the India team reached semifinal but lost to Malaysia 3–0, before that💲 they defeated Hong Kong and South Africa each with 4–0.
Joshna Chinappa and Saurav Ghosal, alongside Tanvi Khanna and Abhay Singh💲 was part of Indian team.[172]
In 2013 Ghoshal became the first Indian to get in top 20 ranking, he reach his💲 career best rank 15.
[173] In 2012 Dipika Pallikal achieved the top 10 ranking in the world.[174]
Sourav Ghoshal is among the💲 brilliant athletes of the sport in India.
[175] Indian men's team won their maiden gold medal at Asian championship in 2022.
Ramit💲 Tandon and Ghoshal defeated team of Kuwait 2–0 in the fianl.[176]
Indian Squash Academy of Chennai is the leading academy of💲 the Squash in the country.
Bowling [ edit ]
Ten-pin bowling [ edit ]
Ten-pin bowling, popularly known as Bowling is a quite💲 known sport here but not widely played or talked about and considered as leisure activity instead of a sport.
[177] The💲 sport is administered by Banglore-based Tenpin Bowling Federation (India) TBF (I), it organises National Bowling Championship for amateur players and💲 corporate teams.
In 2008 Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, India recognised TBF (I) as national federation of the game, in💲 2010 they provided funds to train India's core team.
Indian Bowlers don't get payment and sponsorship to play the sport is💲 one of many issue the sport facing in the country.
[178][179] Bowling alleys are usually found at Malls in India.
[180] In💲 2008 India's team participated in the WTBA World Tenpin Bowling Championships at Bangkok and in the Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships,💲 Belfast.
[181] At the Asian Indoor Games 2017 four time national champion of Bowling, Dhruva Sarda won Bronze.[177]
Lawn bowling [ edit💲 ]
Lawn bowling, Bowls or Bowling is a new sport in India, and was not known to commoners, until Indian women's💲 team won historic gold medal in this sport at 2022 Commonwealth Games in 'women's four event', by the team of💲 Nayanmoni Saikia, Lovely Choubey, Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh.
They won against South Africa.
Due to the win, the game came💲 into the spotlight.
[182] Indians have also participated in the sport at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Lawn bowling was included at the💲 2007 National Games in Guwahati, and the first bowling ground which is called the Green, was installed.
India does not have💲 many Greens, due to player often practice on hockey grounds.
The next Green was installed in Ranchi, Jharkhand for 2011 National💲 Games of India.
Now New Delhi and Kerala also have Bowling Green, ground.
In the country Jharkhand state is powerhouse in this💲 sport, many players for India national team was selected from there.
Jharkhand Bowling Association is the governing body for this sport💲 in Jharkhand state.
[183][184][185] The Bowling Federation of India (BFI) is the governing body for bowling in India.[184]Polo [ edit ]
US💲 First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy posing for a photograph during an annual Polo match in Rajasthan, known as the Sirmoor Cup💲 in 1962.
India is considered the cradle of modern polo.
Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in the 15th century, firmly💲 established its popularity.
During the period between the decline of the Mughal dynasty and the upsurgence of the British Imperial rule,💲 polo almost vanished from mainland India.
Fortunately, the game survived in a few remote mountainous enclaves of the subcontinent, notably Gilgit,💲 Chitral, Ladakh, and Manipur.
In India, the popularity of polo has waned and risen many times.
However, it has never lost its💲 regal status.
In the last few decades, the emergence of privately owned teams has ensured a renaissance in Indian polo.
Today, polo💲 is not just restricted to former royalty and the Indian Army.
Cycle polo
A traditional Cycle Polo game in CC&FC, Kolkata
The Cycle💲 Polo Association of India was officially created in 1966 it has its office in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The first men's nationals were💲 played in 1970 in New Delhi, with the team from Rajasthan emerging victorious.
The Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CC&FC) hosted💲 the first Merchant's Cup Cycle Polo tournament in 1973.
Currently, the CC&FC plays host to the March Mug, the Swaroop Bhanjdeo💲 Memorial Tournament and the CC&FC Trophy.
Since 2015 onwards, CC&FC has been hosting the CC&FC All India Invitation Cycle Polo Cup💲 which is organised jointly by the CC&FC along with the Cycle Polo Association of Bengal.
India has won 8 medals, including💲 record 6 Gold at International Bicycle Polo Championships.
Billiards and snooker [ edit ]
India has been a force in world billiards💲 competitions.
Champions including Wilson Jones, Michael Ferreira, Geet Sethi and now the domination of Pankaj Advani have underlined the powerhouse status💲 of the country.
The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India, the apex body, plays a proactive role in popularising the game.
Many💲 efforts have been made by the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India in the recent past to enhance the popularity💲 of the game in the country.
Several training camps for developing budding talent and providing them with regional and state sponsorship💲 have been organised by the Billiards and Snooker Federation in various parts of the country.[citation needed]
Motorsports [ edit ]
Motorsport is💲 a popular spectator sport in India, although there are relatively few competitors compared to other sports, due to the high💲 costs of competing.
Coimbatore is often referred to as the "Motor sports Capital of India" and the "Backyard of Indian Motorsports".[186]💲 S.
Karivardhan, spearheaded motor racing, making Coimbatore the country's motor racing hub when he designed and built entry level race cars.
Before💲 Buddh International Circuit was constructed, the country's only two permanent race ways were the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore and Madras💲 Motor Racing Track, Chennai.
[187] MRF built the first Formula 3 car in 1997.
[188] MRF in collaboration with Maruti established the💲 Formula Maruti racing, a single-seater, open-wheel class motorsport racing event for race cars made in India.
[189] MRF Challenge is a💲 Formula 2000 open-wheel motorsport formula based series organised by Madras Motor Sports Club in association with MRF.
Narain Karthikeyan and Karun💲 Chandhok are the only drivers from to represent India in Formula 1.
Force India drivers at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.
On💲 1 February 2005, Narain Karthikeyan became India's first Formula One racing driver.
In March 2007, he also became the first-ever Indian-born💲 driver to compete in a NASCAR Series.
He debuted in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the Kroger 250.
[190] Force💲 India F1 was a Formula One motor racing team.
The team was formed in October 2007, when a consortium led by💲 Indian businessmen Vijay Mallya and Michiel Mol bought the Spyker F1 team for €88 million.
[191] After competing in 29 races💲 without a point, Force India won their first Formula One World Championship points and podium place when Giancarlo Fisichella finished💲 second in the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix.
[192] New Delhi hosted the Indian Grand Prix from 2011 to 2013 at Buddh💲 International Circuit in Greater Noida, 50 km from New Delhi.
Karun Chandhok was the test driver for Team Lotus & Narain💲 Karthikeyan raced for HRT during the first half of the 2011 Formula One season.
Karun Chandhok participated in Friday's[when?] practice session💲 and Karthikeyan (stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo) raced at the 2011 Indian Grand Prix; it was the first time two💲 Indian drivers associated with the same Formula One Grand Prix directly.
Mahindra Racing is an Indian constructor competing in the Formula💲 E Championship since the inaugural season in 2014.
Alexander Sims and Alex Lynn are the team's current drivers.
The team formerly competed💲 in MotoGP, fielding a team in the junior Moto3 (125cc) category between 2011 and 2015.
Mahindra later refocused on being a💲 bike and engine supplier, ultimately pulling out of the sport in 2017.
Team MRF's Gaurav Gill the first Indian rally driver💲 to win FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 2013.[193]
Jehan Daruvala drives under the Indian flag in the Formula 2 Championship.
He currently💲 races for MP Racing.
Daruvala has three wins in the series so far.
Boat racing [ edit ]
Boat racings are popular in💲 southern India.
In Kerala many boat races are organised annually, champakulam moolam baot race, Kumarakom boat race, Payippad Jalotsavam, President's Trophy💲 boat race, Aranmula boat race, Champions Boat League, Vallm kali, Nehru Trophy Boat Race are organised in July.[195]
Powerboating [ edit💲 ]
In March 2004 Mumbai hosted the first ever F1H2O (Formula 1 Powerboat) Grand Prix of India [196] From 16 to💲 18 November 2018 Amaravati hosted the second F1H2O World championship Grand Prix of India.
The event brought wide media attention especially💲 after one of the team took the color and the name of Andhra Pradesh Capital, making it the first Indian💲 branded team in the history of F1H2O.
Team Amaravati led by Swedish drivers Jonas Anderson and Eric Edin.
During Grand Prix of💲 France held in Evian-les-Bains Jonas Anderson took the first place and Indian flag waved on the highest step of the💲 podium.
[197] Since then many states are considering hosting Formula One Powerboat event considering the fact that no stadium is required💲 to be built and the event is usually free for spectators.[198]
E-sport and Gaming [ edit ]
Mobile gaming is very popular💲 in India.
As per analytics firm Sensor tower, by app downloads India is biggest gaming market in the world, as of💲 March 2022, the country have 916 million installs, which is 19.
2 percent of world games installed on smartphones.
[199] Fantasy gaming💲 became a big thing, there are many fantasy gaming apps running in India.
Due to rapid growth of gaming in the💲 country, many foreign firms investing-partnering with Indian firms.
PUBG was a popular game here.
[200] As of 27 Aug 2022, online gaming💲 space is worth of US$290 million.
[201] Some people play on gaming consoles, personal computer offline as well as online, but💲 most of these plays on mobile phones.
Mixed Martial Arts [ edit ]
Bodhidharm's painting from 1887 by Japanese artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
According💲 to Chinese legends, it is said that an Indian monk Bodhidharma, traveled to ancient China.
He created Kung-fu martial art at💲 Shaolin Temple and created Zen branch of Buddhism.
He is regarded as a great monk in China.[202]
Fan base for Mixed Martial💲 Arts (MMA) are growing rapidly in India.
Several international promotions are trying to build a strong presence in the country, with💲 TV viewership rising.
[203] There are at least two organisation in India promote themselves as national Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) federation💲 or promoter: Mixed Martial Arts Federation, India and All India Mixed Martial Arts Association.[204][205]
Matrix Fight Night considered as biggest MMA💲 promotion in India, it frequently organises live events across India.
It was founded by Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff and operated by💲 his mother Ayesha Shroff.[206]
Bharat Khandare became the first fighter from India who signed to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
UFC is the💲 world's biggest MMA promotion.
He debuted on 24 November 2017 against Song Yadong of China.
[207] UFC is a popular MMA promotion💲 in this country.
In 2023, Anshul Jubli won US tournament, Road to UFC and gained UFC contract.
He defeated Jeka Saragih of💲 Indonesia in the final of lightweight decision.
As of 12 February 2023, Jubli is undefeated with 7 win winning streak.[208]
Professional wrestling💲 [ edit ]
Professional wrestling is a popular sport in India.
Dara Singh was a notable pro wrestler from India, who won💲 titles internationally.
In the 1950s, he won world championship against Emile Czaja, popularly known by his ring name King Kong.
He also💲 defeated world champion wrestler Lou Thesz of USA [209] Singh participated in almost 500 professional fights and remained undefeated in💲 all of them, he wrestled against George Gordienko of Canada, John da Silva of New Zealand and others.
[210] In 2018,💲 WWE honoured Dara Singh by inducting in WWE Hall of Fame Legacy.
[211] Tiger Joginder Singh, Arjan Singh Das was best💲 professional wrestlers from India, who worked in promotions in Singapore, Japan, USA in the 1940s and 1950s.[209][212]
Dalip Singh Rana, who💲 is widely known by his ring name, The Great Khali was the WWE World heavyweight champion in 2007.
On 7 April💲 2021, WWE honoured The Great Khali by inducting in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Thus he became first professional wrestler from💲 India who received this honour.
[213][ab] Currently, wrestlers such as Saurav Gurjar, Rinku Singh and Shanky are in WWE.
[ac] After WWE,💲 Khali moved back to India and started a pro wrestling promotion, Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE), by which he provide training💲 to the budding wrestlers and organise wrestling events.
WWE has organised some live events in the India so far.
[214][215]Kickboxing [ edit💲 ]
Members of India's national Kickboxing team at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam
[216] Kickboxing in India is promoted and💲 governed by the Indian Association of Kickboxing Organisations which was founded by Er.S.S.Harichandan.
Ratnadiptee Shimpi won a silver medal and Pankaj💲 Mahanta, Manoj Kumar, Mohammad Amir Khan and Salam Lemba Meitei won four bronze medals in the Kickboxing at the 2009💲 Asian Indoor Games.
The Indian Team under IOA participated in the 2009 Asian Martial Arts Games where Laxmi Tyagi won a💲 gold medal and three others bagged bronze medals.
[217][circular reference]
Bodybuilding [ edit ]
It is practised by youngsters as recreational activity and💲 for wellbeing.
Mister India and Mister India World is country's biggest championship in this sport.
India do not have a national bodybuilding💲 federation or governing body.
[218] Indian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation is on of a federation of this sport.
[219] Bollywood actors such💲 as Tiger Shroff and Hrithik Roshan are considered as fitness icons and inspirations.
Tug of war [ edit ]
Women in a💲 tug of war, at the annual Pushkar Fair, Rajasthan, India
The origins of tug of war are uncertain, but this sport💲 was practised in Cambodia, ancient Egypt, Greece, India and China
Archeological evidence shows that tug of war was also popular in💲 India in the 12th century:
There is no specific time and place in history to define the origin of the game💲 of Tug of War.
The contest of pulling on the rope originates from ancient ceremonies and rituals.
Evidence is found in countries💲 like Egypt, India, Myanmar, New Guinea...
The origin of the game in India has strong archaeological roots going back at least💲 to the 12th century AD in the area what is today the State of Orissa on the east coast.
The famous💲 Sun Temple of Konark has a stone relief on the west wing of the structure clearly showing the game of💲 Tug of War in progress.[220]
Roller Sport [ edit ]
'Roller sport' are practiced by some as a recreational sport in India,💲 especially roller skating for children, and it is gaining popularity as a competitive sport.
[221][unreliable source?][222][223] There are clubs in cities💲 and towns,[where?] and roller skating is taught in some schools of urban areas.
[224]Roll ball [ edit ]
Very few people play💲 Roll ball in the country.
Roll Ball Federation of India (RBFI) is the national federation of this sport.
Roll ball was invented💲 in Pune by a physical education teacher Raju Dabhade.
He incorporated rules from Handball, Throw ball and Basketball and the game💲 was formed.
[225] It is relatively unknown sport here, never got television exposure or media attention, however India men's and women's💲 national team are one of the best and dominating teams in the world, it is evident by the fact that💲 India's men's team has won the Roll Ball World Cup four times, it consecutively won it in 2013, 2015, 2017💲 and 2019, while women's team won it 2 times and remained runner up 2 times.
India has hosted Roll ball world💲 cup number of times, the latest edition was held in 2023 at Pune where Indian men team lost against Kenya💲 in the final.
[226]Kurash [ edit ]
Kurash Association of India overseas the sport in India.
India has won two medals in the💲 inaugural event at 2018 Asian Games.[citation needed]
Sepak takraw [ edit ]Sepak takraw ball
Sepak takraw, though not very well known in💲 India, was a demonstration sport at the Delhi Asian Games in 1982.
[227] The Sepaktakraw Federation of India, with its headquarters💲 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, was founded on 10 September 1982.
It is recognised by the Indian Olympic Association and Ministry of Youth💲 Affairs and Sports since 2000.
[228] So far, the federation has conducted 14 senior, seven junior, and six sub-junior national championships💲 in different cities, and is conducting Federation Cup Tournaments and zonal National Championships.
The game is very popular in the northeastern💲 state of Manipur, and some of the best players came from there.
In the 22nd King's Cup International Sepak Takraw Tournament💲 held in Bangkok, the India men's team lost in the semi-finals and claimed bronze in the team event.
In the doubles💲 event, the women's team lost in the semi-finals, but earned bronze medals.[229]
On 21 August 2018, at the 2018 Asian Games,💲 the national men's team won a bronze after losing 2–0 to Thailand.
It was Indian's first medal in Sepak takraw in💲 Asian games.[230]Wushu [ edit ]
The Wushu Association of India is the governing body of wushu in India.
It was established in💲 1989.
India has won 9 medals in the Asian Games including one silver.
[citation needed]Korfball [ edit ]
Korfball, a mixed-gender ball sport,💲 with similarities to netball and basketball, is played by over 50 countries in the world.
It is not as popular in💲 India as other sports, but is still played by a significant number of people.
India came in third place twice (2002💲 and 2006)[231] in the Asia-Oceania Korfball Championships.
[citation needed]Floorball [ edit ]
Floorball, an indoor team sport, a type of floor hockey.
The💲 Floorball Federation of India was started in 2001 and, since then, it has expanded rapidly.
There have been four national floorball💲 championships[which?] held, with Uttar Pradesh becoming the champions.
Women's floorball has also expanded, and Mumbai is the first national floorball champion💲 of India.
India is a provisional member of the International Floorball Federation.
India has participated in many international friendlies and steps are💲 being taken to make India an ordinary member of floorball.
[232][non-primary source needed]Netball [ edit ]
Netball, derived from early versions of💲 basketball, is a popular sport in India, especially among Indian women.
India's national team is ranked 25th in the world and💲 has played only a few matches.
The team has failed to qualify for any of the World Netball Championships.
They played 18💲 matches in total.
[233] In the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, netball was included as a medal sport.
However, the Indian💲 team failed to win a medal.
Throwball [ edit ]
Throwball, a non-contact competitive ball sport played across a net between two💲 teams of nine players on a rectangular court, is gaining popularity in India.
Indian authorities of the game were instrumental in💲 organising an Asian-level and, later, a world-level association for the sport.
Throwball is played in gym class, colleges, and clubs throughout💲 Asian countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
The sport is also💲 slowly gaining in popularity in other countries including France, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
India's junior throwball team visited💲 Sri Lanka in 1982.
Vijay Dahiya from Haryana was captain of the team.
The Indian team won the test series.[citation needed]
Introduced in💲 2011 by various American football figures, including Mike Ditka and Ron Jaworski, the Elite Football League of India was India's💲 first professional American football league.
Their first league play was to commence in 2012, and feature teams from eight different Indian💲 cities.
Lacrosse [ edit ]
Lacrosse is a relatively new sport in India, introduced in 2006.
The governing body for lacrosse in India💲 is the Indian National Lacrosse Federation.
It is now being played by schools in Shillong, Meghalaya, while being basically nonexistent in💲 the rest of the country.
No traces of Lacrosse in India can be found on the Internet.[citation needed]
Winter sports [ edit💲 ]
Winter sports are common in India in the Himalayan areas.
Skiing tournaments take place every winter in Gulmarg, and Manali.
Winter sports💲 are generally more common in the northern states and territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal💲 Pradesh.
Skiing, snow rugby, snow cycling, and snow football are some of the common winter sports played in India.
Skiing is more💲 popular, although India has taken part in luge in Winter Olympics since 1998.
Shiva Keshavan is the only Indian to have💲 won medals in international meets in winter sports (Asian Gold 2011, Asian Silver 2009, Asian Bronze 2008, Asian Silver (doubles)💲 2005, Asian Bronze (singles) 2005), and to have participated in four Olympic Games.
He is the Asian speed record holder at💲 134.
4 km/h, making him the fastest man in Asia on ice.
Luge is practised in a big way by the mountain💲 residents in an improvised form called "reri".
Bandy [ edit ]
India has a national bandy team.
The Bandy Federation of India governs💲 bandy in India.
Its headquarters are in Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.
Bandy, a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters💲 use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal, is generally played in northern India, where there is💲 snow and ice.
India is one of seven countries in Asia and out of a total of 28 to be a💲 member of Federation of International Bandy.
BFI planned to send a team to the 2011 Asian Winter Games in Astana-Almaty,[234] but💲 ultimately did not.
[235]Ice hockey [ edit ]
Ice hockey is played in the colder parts of India, including Kashmir, Ladakh, and💲 parts of Himachal Pradesh.
[236] The Ice Hockey Association of India is the governing body for this sport in India.
It affiliated💲 to International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the world governing body of Ice hockey.
India men's national ice hockey team and India💲 women's national ice hockey team represents India in international ice hockey events.
The sport is not popular due to less television,💲 media coverage, and sponsorships.
Skiing [ edit ]
Skiing is a recreational activity that is popularly indulged in at many Himalayan Hill💲 stations in India.
Tourists enjoy skiing at places such as Manali, Jammu and Kashmir, Kasauli, Nainital, Shimla, hung in Sikkim, Tawang💲 in Arunachal Pradesh, Manali, Kufri, Chamba, Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh, Pahalgam and Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, Mundali, Munsiari, and💲 Auli in Uttarakhand etc.[237]
Adventure sports [ edit ]
India is backward in adventure sports.
This is due to the lack of sponsorships,💲 encouragement from the government, training facilities, and coaching.
But a significant number of people have participated in various forms of these💲 sports.
Mountain climbing [ edit ]
Mountain climbing sport has a long history in India.
Many climbers from India have climbed Mount Everest.
Avtar💲 Singh Cheema was the 1st Indian mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest in 1965, and in the same year, Captain MS💲 Kohli also climbed it.
Bachendri Pal is the first Indian woman mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest, she did this feat in💲 1984.
In 1993, Santosh Yadav became the first woman of India who climbed it twice.
In 2014, Malavath Purna became the youngest💲 Indian mountaineer who climbed Everest.
Love Raj Singh Dharmshaktu has gone up on it 7 times.[238][239]
India has few government institute or💲 schools that provide training in Mountaineering : Himalayan mountaineering institute of Darjeeling, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied💲 Sports (ABVIMAS) Manali, both are founded by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1954 and 1961 respectively.
ABVIMAS institute also provide💲 training in other adventure sports such as skiing, aero-sport, water sport.[ad][240]
Rock climbing [ edit ]
Rock climbing is popular among some💲 enthusiasts of adventure sports.
India has a lot of mountains; amateur and professional climbers often visit Miyar Valley of Himachal Pradesh,💲 Shey Rock in Leh, and Sar Pass of Himachal Pradesh for rock climbing.
[241] Places such as Malshej Ghat in Maharashtra,💲 Paithalmala in Kannur district of Kerala, Rajsangam, and Badami in Karnataka are popular rock climbing destinations.
Bangalore has many climbing gyms💲 which provide training.
Ramnagara, Karnataka has a lots of rock and crags, as well as terrain features where people often do💲 trekking and rock climbing.
Spots such as Madapura Betta, Motherwall, Achalu, Senapathy, Ravugodlu, Karekallu, and Gethnaa Area crags are best for💲 climbing.
It is named after Gethnaa Government Institute for climbing.
[242]Bouldering [ edit ]
Adventure sports enthusiasts do bouldering in Hampi of Karnataka.
It💲 is frequently visited by adventure seekers, because the place has infinite large boulders.
It is known as a world class bouldering💲 destination.
[243] Some bouldering spots have become well-known and frequently visited in the country.
But the adventure sports do not have exposure,💲 sponsorships, training facilities and coaching in the entire country.
[244]Trekking [ edit ]
People who like outdoor activities often visit various forts💲 of Maharashtra for trekking.
Savanadurga, Karnataka is a place where Trekkers visit for Trekking[241]Skydiving [ edit ]
Sky-diving is a little new💲 sport in India.
Due to exposure of online media and television, this sport became well known in past some decades.
India have💲 some private institutes or Sky diving operators across the nation, who provides services to enthusiasts who want to do skydiving.
In💲 Maharashtra adventure seekers do skydiving at Aamby valley, Tourist can experience this sport throughout year here.
It is the best place💲 for Tandem jump or Tandem skydiving.
This skydiving place is present 3 hr away from Mumbai.
Similarly skydiving companies or spots are💲 present Hyderabad in Telangana, skydiving companies organise the driving camps regularly.
In Tamil Nadu's Pondicherry skydiving operators offers static as well💲 as Tandem jump.
Other skydiving spots include Mysore, Bir Billing of Himachal Pradesh.
The later is the hotspot for adventure enthusiasts in💲 this nation.[245]
Bungee Jumping [ edit ]
Bungee jumping is a popular adventure sport and recreational activity in some tourist places of💲 India.
The facilities for bungee jumping are present at Mohan Chatti village near Rishikesh, with its height being 83 m.
In Maharashtra,💲 tourists enjoy it in Kunegaon at Lonavala, with its height being 45 metres, and at Ozon Adventures in Benglore, Karnataka,💲 with its height being 40 meters and being unique because it does not have a fixed platform for jumping like💲 the above places have; the participants jump from the top of a crane.
Jagdalpur of Chhattisgarh has a 30-meters tall bungee💲 jump.
In New Delhi people try it at Wanderlust.[246]
Giant Swing [ edit ]
It is a recreational activity which tourists enjoy in💲 Rishikesh of North India.
In Giant Swing, participants can experience a bungee jumping-like experience after a fall, with the harness swinging💲 the participants like a pendulum.
[237]Zip lining [ edit ]
It is a popular recreational activity in India at the tourist places,💲 where it is available.
Spots such as Mehrangarh fort, Rajasthan.
and Devgad in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra have zip-lining facilities.[247][248]
River Rafting [💲 edit ]
Water sports gained tremendous popularity in India in the last few decades.
Indians participate in river rafting in many places💲 across the nation.
Rishikesh is considered as biggest hub of River rafting in India.
Another notable place where people indulge in this💲 sport are Kullu-Manali, where rafting begins from Pirdi and passes through points such as Bajaura, Bhuntar and Mohal.
On Indus river💲 in Leh Ladakh, on Yamuna river in Uttarakhand state, on the rapid streams of Tons river and Teesta River in💲 Sikkim, on one of the biggest river Brahmputra in Sikkim.
Lohit River, Kameng River in Arunachal Pradesh, Barapole in Karnataka here💲 upper river consists of 4, 3 grades streams, Kundalika River in Maharashtra.[249] [237]
Gambling, poker, fantasy sports and betting [ edit💲 ]
Gambling is illegal in most of the states except Goa, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland states and Daman, where land based gambling💲 and casinos are legal under the Public Gambling Act, 1976 of Indian Penal Code.
Gambling is illegal in Maharashtra state, under💲 the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act 1887, but it is still widely played underground in various spots of Maharashtra state.
Although💲 there are laws against gambling in most of the states, gamblers still find a way to gamble throughout India.
Many play💲 the Seven Eight, Rummy, Teen patti, Seven on Seven, Blackjack, Bluff, Bridge, Mendikot, and Three to Five variants of Poker.
These💲 games are widely considered to be gambling.
[250] India has a plethora of online Fantasy gaming apps which the masses spend💲 money to play.
In these fantasy games, players make teams using mobile phones.
Often questions are raised that these fantasy online games💲 are gambling, but these apps advertise themselves as being legal and not forms of gambling, but rather games of skills.
Some💲 states have banned these apps.
[251][252] Betting is illegal in India, but the nation doesn't have a proper law against online💲 gambling.
Many gambling platforms and mobile apps advertise themselves during the IPL, international, and domestic cricket matches on television through surrogate💲 advertisements in India, Some of these apps are 1xBet, Fairplay, PariMatch, Betway and Wolf 777, with most of these websites💲 and apps operating from outside of India.
[253] Betting on horse racing is legal, while matka gambling is ill-legal in this💲 nation.[254]
Lottery gambling is legal and allowed to be played in 13 states while the rest of the states have banned💲 it, but lottery selling and buying happens in every state.
Even in the states where it is banned, they do not💲 have stringent laws and police do not enforce the existing laws.
In some states such as Mizoram, Kerala, Nagaland and Sikkim,💲 it is legal and hugely popular.
13 states that allows lotteries are: Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam,💲 Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram.
It was very popular in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, but💲 now it is totally banned.
In the states where it is banned, the ban is not effective and lotteries are conducted💲 actively through apps and online websites.[255]
Poker – Bridge game [ edit ]
Pranab Bradhan and Shibhnath Sarkar have won gold medals💲 at the 2018 Asian Games in bridge game at Jakarta.
Indians also won two bronze medals in the event.
This was the💲 first time the game was played in such a major international event.
The Bridge Federation of India (BFI) is the governing💲 body for bridge game in India.
BFI nominated Bradhan and Sarkar's names for the Arjuna Award in 2020.[256]
Traditional games [ edit💲 ]Yoga [ edit ]
It was part of the National games of 2022.
Indian martial arts [ edit ]
India has many traditional💲 regional forms of martial arts such as lathi khela, sqay, kalari, kushti, thang-ta, silambam and Kalaripayattu.
Board games [ edit ]
Board💲 Games such as Carrom, Ludo, Snakes and ladders and Tick-Tack-Toe are widely played as pass time, mostly by kids.
These games💲 also played online on mobiles.
Kho kho is a tag sport played by teams of twelve players who try to avoid💲 being touched by members of the opposing team, only nine players of the team enter the field.
[262] It is one💲 of the two most popular traditional tag games played in schools, the other being kabbadi.
[263] Kho Kho Federation of India💲 overseas the sports in the country.
In 2022, the first season of Ultimate Kho Kho, a domestic franchise Kho-kho competition, took💲 place in India.
[264]Lagori [ edit ]
Lagori is played by children of all ages throughout India.
In this there are usually 12💲 players, 6 in each time.
A ball and 9 flat rocks are need to play this game.
The rocks are piled in💲 the center on top of each other from the largest to the smallest flat rock.
Then both the teams alternatively hit💲 that pile by a ball.
The team which hits the pile first and manages topple the pile of rocks gets the💲 chance to hold the ball and hit the player of opposite team with that ball.
The task of the opposite team💲 is to re-arrange the pile of rock without getting hit by the ball.
Whichever players get hit by the ball is💲 out and the task is taken further by remaining player of his team.
If the team with the ball succeeds to💲 out all the players before they could re-arrange the pile they win.
If the team manages to re-arrange the pile then💲 the team with the ball loses.
[265]Kancha [ edit ]
Kancha is played by using marbles.
Marbles are glass balls which are very💲 popular among children.
It is popular in small Indian cities and villages, among small children only as a gully sport.
The participant💲 has to hit the marble kept in a circle.
If he hits the target properly, he wins.
The winner gets the kancha💲 of the other participant boys.[266]
Kids playing this game
Gilli-danda, Karra billa or Viti Dandu in Marathi is a game played by💲 using one small stick (gilli) and a large stick (danda) like cricket, with the ball replaced by gilli.
It is still💲 played in villages of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat in💲 India only as a recreational game among boys.
Kite-flying is pursued by many people in India, in cities as well as💲 villages.
The festival of Makar Sankranti features kite-flying competitions.
It is festival which is a passion among Indians.
Arm wrestling [ edit ]
Arm💲 wrestling (also known as panja)[267] is a popular pastime in India, and is played professionally in India in the Pro💲 Panja League.[268]
Animal events [ edit ]Pola race [ edit ]
Pola race is traditional bull race organised in rural areas of💲 Maharashtra state.
People in villages organise it annually on the day of Pola festival.
Usually owners of the Bulls run along with💲 them in predefined distance of 100–150 metres approximately.
In August 2017 and again on 6 September 2021, Government of Maharashtra banned💲 i
