Sports are an integral part of Indian society and Indian culture. In ancient India, sports were seen as entertainment for the entertainment of the Maharajas or kings and their people after long and fierce battles, or to celebrate victories. Here is a list of the 5 most popular sports in India.
All novice bettors are wondering which of the many bookmakers is better to make bets, it is definitely impossible to answer it. Some bookmakers have higher odds, there are bookies with a good line, others are better suited for live betting, also there are companies that offer good bonuses. Check out the benefits of Indian online betting sites and you will find a list with reviews of each bookmaker, which definitely will help you to choose yours.
5. Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a traditional sport in India; it has recently gained mainstream attention and taken center stage in Indian Sports. This is mainly due to the introduction of the Pro Kabaddi League and it is the second most popular sports league in India after the IPL. PKL is a franchise-based competition with Kabaddi closed version rules.
Kabaddi has recently gained recognition as a competitive sport and is part of the Asian Games. PKL and Kabaddi World Cup are the most anticipated competitions in this sport. India has dominated this sport from the very beginning and this is also one of the main reasons for its popularity in our country. Iran is India’s closest competitor in Kabaddi. India has won every kabaddi world championship that has been held so far.
4. Field hockey
Field hockey is the national sport of India; Its popularity has declined in recent years due to the rise of cricket and other sports. Players like Dhyan Chand and Balbir Singh Sr. are the reason behind the rise of the sport and the recognition of India as a great hockey nation.
Dhyan Chand is undoubtedly the greatest hockey player of all time, Adolf Hitler himself praised Dhyan Chand’s magical ball control and skills when he played in Germany. It is said that the world was at his feet whenever he took to the field. He was the greatest ambassador of sport and also of India.
During the golden years of Indian hockey, India brought home badminton 8 Olympic gold medals, the most of any nation in the sport. Like any popular sport in India, hockey also has its own league, the Indian Hockey League (HIL), which was founded in 2013. This league is based on the IPL model.
In India, the national success and popularity of the sport began to decline after a change in the rules of the Olympic Games and disagreements between the Indian hockey federations.
3. Badminton
Badminton is the third most popular sport in India. Recently, India has been successful internationally. The most promising and emerging players are Saina Neval and P.V. Sindhu who are the flag bearers of the sport in India. These two women revolutionized the sport and gave the sport its reputation.
Saina was ranked 2nd by the World Badminton Federation in December 2010 and later won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. This feat was spearheaded by PV Sindhu when she won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics and later won a gold medal at the World Championships in Basel.
2. Football
Football is the second most popular sport in India after cricket. Oddly enough, in India this sport is watched more than it is played. The India national football team has not had much success internationally and the team is ranked 108th in the world in the FIFA rankings without ever qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.
The popularity of this sport is mainly due to the huge number of fans of European football in India and the Premier League is one of the most popular sports leagues in India.
In the past, India successfully qualified for the 1950 but were unable to participate as they were not allowed to play barefoot. In 1956, India became the first Asian country to reach the semi-finals of the Olympic Games. India also finished second in the 1964 Asian Football Cup. However, over time, the level of football dropped due to a lack of interest and skills.
1. Cricket
Cricket is not a sport, it’s more like a religion in India, every second person in India is a cricket fanatic and can talk endlessly about their love for the sport. It all started after the former captain of India lifted the ICC World Cup in 1983, the first time India had won a major competition.
As for the obsession with sports, India’s love of cricket is always compared to Argentina’s and Brazil’s passion for football. But the number of cricket fans in India is simply unbelievable, one of the reasons for this may be India’s success and competitiveness in the game.
India has always ranked among the top teams playing the sport, winning the inaugural ICC World T20 Championship, the 2011 ICC World Championship and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. India is currently ranked 1st in the ICC Test rankings and 2nd in the ICC ODI rankings.
Over the years, India has produced some phenomenal cricketers who have raised the bar globally. The greatest cricketer and some say he is the “God of Cricket”, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is one of the best players in India. He dominated and set records throughout his 24-year career. He scored 100 points in his career and is also the highest scoring player in the history of the game.