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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

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