India is a multicultural nation where a varied range of people participate in various sports. These days, Cricket isn’t the only show that people watch. Football, hockey, tennis, badminton, and other sports are among the many other sports in which the Indian public is becoming increasingly interested.
The majority of Indians believe that sports are a fantastic career option. Are you curious about which one rules the other? The full list of the top 20 sports in India’s popularity is provided by us.
Famous sports in India:
20. Basketball:
In India, basketball is one of the most popular sports. It’s one of the hardest games because the player needs to be very skilled both technically and physically. It’s pretty easy to win; just make more baskets than your opponent. The five primary positions in basketball are small forward, power forward, centre forward, shooting guard, and point guard. As their name implies, shooting guards are typically the team’s best shooters.
However, shooting is a very difficult part. And having good form and technique is essential to being a great shooter. The fundamentals are crucial to understanding and perfecting the art of basketball shooting, even though none can be perfect. You should focus on the target even before you fire.
Find the target every time, even before you receive the ball. It is more important than actually tracking the ball’s trajectory. It might take a few extra milliseconds to find the target if you search for it later, and you run the risk of losing the ball. Accurately positioning oneself is crucial because it provides the foundation for a proper delivery and accurate shot.
While it’s certainly okay to adjust things to suit your own comfort level, you should stick to it. Try to maintain your feet as close as possible, if not directly towards, the basket. Always take a knee bend prior to firing a shot.
19. Bodybuilding:
In order to improve overall body composition, increase strength, and build muscle mass, bodybuilding is a competitive sport and form of physical exercise that uses weightlifting and other resistance training techniques. To encourage muscle growth and decrease body fat, bodybuilders usually lift heavy weights and adhere to a particular diet and nutrition regimen.
In bodybuilding competitions, a competitor’s muscular growth, symmetry, and overall physical presentation are usually evaluated. Bodybuilding has grown in popularity over the years as a way for people to enhance their general health and mobility as well as their physical appearance and fitness.
It is crucial to remember that bodybuilding calls for a great deal of commitment, diligence, and self-control in terms of diet and exercise and that it should only be done under the supervision of a licenced coach or trainer until the trainee is able to carry out the required exercises in a safe and appropriate manner.
Indian bodybuilding began around 1100 AD, and by 1500 AD, it had grown to be a popular national sport. Sand sacks and stones were used for weightlifting in mediaeval India. A common type of exercise equipment was called “Nal,” which was a rough stone with a hole in the middle. The ‘Mudgal’, a massive wooden club, was an additional piece of equipment with ancient connotations. Large shoulders and a robust neck were primarily constructed with stone wheels that had holes in them.
A greater portion of the 19th-century Indian bodybuilding movement’s credit goes to Professor K. V. Iyer, the Maharaja of Mysore’s physician.
Iyer, a Brahmin from South India, banned meat. He abstained from alcohol and was a strict vegetarian. His mainstays were grains, such as ragi and unpolished rice. He ate enough fruits, vegetables, and buttermilk to stay nourished.
In 1930, Professor Iyer opened the Hercules gym in Bangalore, where he trained over 25,000 students. He thought that explanation and demonstration were the best ways to teach. Those who were unable to sign up for a gym class were notified via mail. Iyer had also set up lodging for students who were studying away from home.
The Hercules gym undoubtedly had a significant role in Indian bodybuilding history since it provided the necessary information to bodybuilding initiates. Iyer wrote a book in English titled “Chemical Changes in Physical Exercise” in 1938, not realising the depth of his own writing. He was duly granted a Doctorate degree by Missouri University in 1940.
Four prominent Indian bodybuilders who have won the coveted Mr. Universe title and made India proud stand out after independence. In 1951 and 1952, respectively, Manohar Aich and Montosh Roy won the national championship. In contrast to what many people believe, Roy, not Aich, was the first Mr Universe champion. The illustrious Premchand Degra took home the championship in 1988, and our very own MuscleBlaze athlete Sangram Chougule took home the coveted prize in 2012.
18. Shooting:
Sport shooting necessitates extensive mental and physical preparation. Olympic shooters frequently dedicate many years of their lives to honing the extremely high standards required for shooting competitively. Enter the world of shooting sports, where competitiveness and accuracy are matched with intense adrenaline.
Athletes take aim and push their abilities to the limit with unmatched focus and unwavering determination. It takes discipline, technique, and steely nerves to participate in this captivating sport, from the crack of gunfire to the satisfying strike of the target.
When it comes to shooting, age is irrelevant. At local tournaments, it’s not unusual to see talented teenagers matched against opponents as old as their grandparents. All ages are welcome to participate in shooting sports, which provide an even playing field for enthusiasts to display their abilities and enthusiasm.
Shooters from India have long been considered a national pride. They have consistently performed exceptionally well internationally, and they have gotten better every year.
The goal of the 1951 founding of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was to advance and increase the popularity of shooting sports in India. The first president of the NRAI and its founder was Sh. G.V. Mavlankar, the first speaker of the Lok Sabha. Other presidents of the organisation included Sh. Joginder Singh, Sh. Govind Vallabh Pant, Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sh. Y. B. Chauhan, Sh. G.S. Dhillon, and so on. Currently serving as NRAI president is Sh. Raninder Singh is a highly proficient shooter from the Patiala Royal Family.
The Indian Olympic Association and all international shooting federations and confederations are affiliated with NRAI. In addition, NRAI organises five national competitions each year to advance and increase the popularity of shooting sports in India.
- National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC)
- All India G.V. Mavlankar Shooting Championship (AIGVMSC)
- Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi Memorial Masters Shooting Championship
- Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship
- All India Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Inter-School Shooting Championship
17. Weightlifting:
When Karnam Malleswari won bronze at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. In 1992, she participated in the Asian Championships held in Thailand, where she earned three silver medals and placed second. With three bronze medals, she finished third in the world championships as well.
Khumukcham At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Sanjita Chanu took home the gold medal in the women’s 48 kg division, while Mirabai Chanu took home the silver. With a total of 328 kg, including 149 kg of snatch and 179 kg of clean and jerk lifts, Sukhen Dey won gold in the men’s 56 kg category, Ganesh Mali took home the bronze, and Sathish Sivalingam won gold in the 77 kg category.
His 149 kg lift in the snatch created a new Games record. Affin Varghese took home the gold in the 57 kg class with 114 kg of snatch and 130 kg of clean and jerk lifts, for a total weight of 298 kg. His 139 kg lift in the snatch created a new junior division state record. At the Tokyo Olympics, Chanu won silver in the 49 kg weightlifting competition.
New Delhi is home to the Indian Weightlifting Federation’s main office. The Federation is affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association (Delhi) and is a member of the International Weightlifting Federation (Budapest), as well as the Asian Weightlifting Federation (Tehran). Currently serving as the Indian Weightlifting Federation’s president is Mr. Sahdev Yadav.
16. Chess:
One of the most well-known strategy board games in the world is chess. The game is designed for two players and is played on an 8×8 checkerboard with 64 squares arranged. Chess, which originated from the ancient Indian game “chaturanga” in the 7th century, strongly engages all six regions of the brain, promoting appropriate exercise and the development of mental health.
Since chess is an indoor tactical game with no physical risks, it is never too late to start learning. It can be picked up at any age. Here are some tips for beginners on how to play chess and learn various winning moves to make your job easier.
When an opponent’s piece crosses its path, all of the pieces except the pawn capture it. The capturing piece assumes the position of the captured piece after it has been captured. One piece can never fully capture the colour of another. A piece is eliminated from the board and cannot be used again in the game once it has been captured by the opposition.
When it comes to the Pawn, capture is only feasible if the opponent’s piece is positioned on the diagonal front block with regard to the Pawn. The pawn will thus advance into the diagonal front block in the process of capturing the piece. As a result, its movement direction changes.
15. Kho Kho:
Which Indian traditional game requires qualities like self-esteem, keenness, cooperation, devotion, speed, and quick thinking? Kho Kho is the response! This is not just a game, but a traditional Indian sport. It is a tool for personal growth for those who enjoy taking on challenges. It’s evident that the Kho Kho game is a cheap but incredibly fun game. You will find all the information you need to play Kho Kho, one of the oldest sports in India, as well as terminology, skills, rules, and much more in this blog.
One of the most well-liked traditional sports in the nation is kho kho. A few fascinating game-related facts. The players’ seating arrangements are arbitrary; you’ll never find the same group of players seated in the same order as the game begins. The game demands a great deal of speed and endurance. Numerous well-known Kho Kho players from India have elevated this game to new heights.
It’s a national game of tag. Its origins can be traced back to the epic Mahabharata, from which plans and tactics were probably taken. According to the story, on the thirteenth day of the conflict, the Kaurava Guru Dronacharya devised the unique military defensive strategy known as “Chakravyuh,” which was broken by Abhimanyu.
Sadly, he perished because he was severely wounded and had to battle against seven warriors by himself. His fighting style was an example of ring play, which is the game’s defensive strategy. The ancient game known as “raths” and chariots was called “Rathera.”
14. Swimming:
Swimming provides an unparalleled rush, whether you choose to swim in placid waters or take on the waves head-on. Swimming provides a haven where you can enhance your physical and mental strength, from a full-body workout that tones your muscles to a calming rhythm that melts stress.
Enjoy the freedom of low-impact exercise, as the water’s buoyancy cushions your joints and creates a world of opportunities for those suffering from illnesses or injuries. We will discover many amazing advantages of swimming in this blog.
The weekly goal for individuals between the ages of 19 and 64 should be 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise. Younger children should also engage in physical activity. For as long as their health allows, people ought to live that way for the remainder of their days. For a number of reasons, swimming may be preferred over other types of exercise. It gives the body a thorough workout and has many advantages for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Swimming improves lung and heart health. Studies suggest that swimming may even reduce your chance of dying because it is so good for your health. The mortality rate for swimmers is approximately half that of sedentary individuals. Other studies have shown that swimming can lower blood pressure and help control blood sugar.
13. Gymnastics:
You are merely engaging in gymnastics if you can run, swing, jump, and move your body with exquisite form and symphonic physical coordination. Naked men engaged in a variety of physical activities in ancient Greece to keep their bodies flexible and in good condition.
Gymnastics is an Olympic sport today, having been around for 2500 years, and it’s one of those sports you can just enjoy without knowing the rules. This is a comprehensive guide to gymnastics, covering all aspects of the sport. We will examine gymnastics’ history, regulations, styles, types of gymnasts, Indian gymnasts, rings, etc. in this blog.
In comparison to international competitions, Indian gymnastics is far away. However, a few young gymnasts have emerged in recent years who have tremendous potential and could compete for Olympic gold. The most gifted gymnast that India has produced to date is Dipa Karmakar, who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
She was one of the few gymnasts in the world who could execute the difficult Produnova vault. She is also the first female gymnast from India to ever win a medal. The 26-year-old Pranati Nayak, who will compete in the artistic gymnastics event at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, is the newest person on the list.
Aruna Reddy is a well-known figure in the industry for making history at the 2018 Gymnastics World Cup with her bronze medal. When it comes to male gymnasts from India, Ashish Kumar is the one to watch. He achieved a first for India by winning a medal in an international tournament. He took home a bronze and a silver medal for India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. However, there is still a long way to go before the Indian gymnastics domain reaches its ultimate goal.
12. Archery:
Is archery the oldest art form that is still in use? You will travel through the development of the sport of archery as told by history. There is evidence of archery dating back thousands of years, and it has continued to develop since then. In the past, someone who played bow and arrow archery was referred to as a marksman or archer.
The archer uses a bow to propel and arrows to hit the target from a specific distance when practising archery. Originating from the Latin word “arcus,” it was exclusively employed for hunting purposes in antiquity. However, both crossbows and archery are becoming more and more common today.
At the Summer Olympics in Paris in 1900, archery was accepted as an Olympic sport. Recurve archery, a form of target archery, was the only kind of archery displayed at the Olympics. Another Summer Paralympic sport is archery.
11. Motorsport:
Sports involving motorsports are incredibly popular among young people in India. Only after the 2000s did Indian sports begin to flourish, with two well-known drivers leading the charge—Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
The Indian Grand Prix, a race in the FIA Formula One World Championship, was held at the Buddh International Circuit in Sector 25 along the Yamuna Motorway in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh State from 2011 to 2013.
10. Table Tennis:
In India, table tennis is the most popular indoor sport. Nonetheless, states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal are where it is most well-known. The official governing body of table tennis in India is the Table Tennis Federation of India.
It is only in the last few years that TT’s popularity has really increased. India boasts some of the best singles players in the world, with players ranked in the top 50 in both the men’s and women’s divisions. Sharath Kamal, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, and Manika Batra are a few of them.
9. Boxing:
Although it did not attract much attention, boxing did have a sizable fan base in India. The absence of international successes was the cause of the lack of interest in the game. Still, the sport is becoming incredibly popular these days.
After Indian wrestler Vijender Singh won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, boxing gained attention. After renowned fighter Mary Kom became the first female athlete to win a boxing medal, the sport’s popularity skyrocketed. Children frequently mistake boxing for WWE. In actuality, WWE is a combat-based entertainment programme, while boxing is a professional sport.
8. Tennis:
One of the most well-liked sports in the world, tennis has a sizable fan base in India. Numerous tennis players from India have won major international titles and established themselves as mainstays of elite tennis competitions.
Who is unfamiliar with Sania Mirza? She was the top player in the world in the doubles division and an Indian professional tennis player. She took home six major championships: three in mixed doubles and three in women’s doubles. In both categories, she was ranked as the top player in India by the WTA. Mirza has made a name for herself as the most prosperous Indian woman to play tennis. The All India Tennis Association, founded in 1920, is the body that oversees tennis in India.
7. Athletics:
In India, athletics was first introduced during the British Raj. The Athletics Federation of India was founded in 1946 and is the national governing body for the sport. Known as “The Flying Sikh,” Milkha Singh rose to prominence as India’s first internationally recognised athlete.
In the annals of athletics, a few prominent Indian athletes are Praveen Kumar, T. C. Yohannan, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, Neeraj Chopra, Sriram Singh, and others. P T Usha, Swapna Singh, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Krishna Poonia, Saraswati Saha, Soma Biswas, and Anju Bobby George are notable names in the world of modern female athletes.
6. Wrestling:
In addition to having a lengthy history in India, wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the world. With time, the sport has grown in popularity and brought India multiple medals from important competitions.
Since the 2008 Beijing Games, Indian wrestlers have won at least one medal in every Olympics, elevating the sport to a higher level. In India, some of the well-known wrestlers are Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sushil Kumar, Vinesh Phogat, Geeta Phogat, and others. Following Bollywood hits like Sultan and Dangal, the sport has become even more well-known.
5. Badminton:
The Badminton Association of India oversees the popular sport of badminton in India. The skilful Indian shuttlers who represent their nation with pride in numerous international competitions are the driving force behind badminton’s increasing popularity.
The first Indian shuttler to ever hold the top spot in the world rankings was Prakash Padukone. Many talented badminton players who have gained popularity both domestically and internationally have emerged from India. In India, some of the most well-known badminton players are Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, etc.
4. Hockey:
India’s national sport is hockey. It’s one of the most well-liked sports in the nation.
The Indian hockey team has an illustrious history, having won multiple medals at international competitions. Legendary athletes like Dhanraj Pillay, Udham Singh, and Dhyan Chand were all born in this nation.
But over the past three decades, the team’s performances have decreased following its final gold medal win at the 1980 Olympics. After 36 years of hardship, the Indian men’s team advanced to the Olympic knockout stage and earned a silver medal in the Champions Trophy later in 2016. India won silver in the men’s hockey CWG 2022 tournament, falling to Australia 0–7 in the championship game.
3. Kabaddi:
The contact sport of kabaddi has its roots in ancient India. In India, it is among the most well-liked sports. Originally played primarily in villages, this traditional sport is now played on a global scale. India plays four different types of kabaddi: Amar, Siranjeevi, Huttuttoo, and Gaminee. The form typically used in international matches is Siranjeevi.
In this discipline, India won gold medals at the Asian Games in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. The Pro Kabaddi League is attracting a large number of viewers. Based on the Indian Premier League, it was first introduced in India in 2014, with Bollywood celebrities owning various teams.
2. Football:
The most popular sport in the world, football is also very well-known in India. Football has historically been extremely popular in states like Kerala, West Bengal, Goa, and northeastern India, which includes the states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
The current captain of the Indian national team is Sunil Chhetri. According to the FIFA World Rankings, India is ranked 101st. Indian football leagues are becoming more popular, drawing international stars and exhibiting domestic talent. Football’s popularity soars, breaking down barriers and bringing people from different backgrounds together as the roar of the crowd gets louder.
1. Cricket:
In India, cricket is the sport that is watched the most. The high level of interest that the populace has for both athletes and this particular sport accounts for cricket’s popularity in the nation. India’s rising fame is largely due to its outstanding results in international cricket competitions. Additionally, the sport is promoted by numerous sports channels and brands, which draws in large audiences.
The nation has produced some of the greatest cricket players in history, including MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, and many more. At the moment, Virat Kohli has the largest fan base of any cricket player.
Today’s cricket players are well-known figures and role models. Their personal and professional lives have kept them in the spotlight for a long time.
So, this was all about the best and most popular sports in India. Also read, Top 6 unmissable Must-Watch sports betting TV shows
