There are many different hobbies and leisure activities in India. Although the population of India is diverse, a significant section of the populace has developed an interest in a few places. In India, sports continue to be able to unite a sizable segment of the population on one side of the political spectrum. These sports are the most popular in India.
Athletic events are one of the few occasions on which Indians unite as a nation to support a common cause. But there is no denying that popular sports in India are uneven. Certain sports have a considerably larger fan base and are more popular than others, while others have difficulty gaining traction. One of the most popular sports in India is, without a doubt, cricket.
Top 10 Most Popular Indian Sports
1. Cricket
India’s national sport and one that is firmly rooted in the nation’s culture is cricket. It was initially introduced when India was under the British administration. Since then, it has remained closely associated with the history and customs of the nation.
The professional Twenty-20 cricket league known as the Indian Premier League (IPL), which debuted in 2008, is currently the most popular cricket league worldwide. Duff & Phelps statistics indicate that the IPL’s brand value was US $6.7 billion in 2019. Indians watch the league extensively, and it makes a significant economic contribution to the nation. The BCCI, which oversees the league, asserted that the 2015 season added ₹11.5 billion (about US$160 million) to India’s GDP.
2. Badminton
Right behind cricket, badminton is currently the second-most popular Indian sport. The number of people watching TV has also been increasing.
Several of the nation’s athletes, like Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, Srikanth Kidambi, and Saina Nehwal, have positions among the best in the world. The nation has also had some success abroad.
Viewers of the Premier Badminton League, the nation’s premier competition, have been growing. PBL game TV viewership increased to a record 155 million in 2019 (from 42 million the year before).
3. Kabbadi
The Indian subcontinent is home to the sport of Kabaddi, which has long been one of the most popular activities there.
In India, the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is the highest division of competition. Since its 2014 debut, the league has gained a lot of popularity among viewers and supporters. 435 million TV viewers watched the PKL in its first season, second only to the 552 million viewers of the Indian Premier League.
Ever since, the sport is thought to be the one in India that is developing the fastest, becoming more popular. The league saw an almost 100 million increase in viewership between 2016 and 2017. Actually, more Indians watched the Pro Kabaddi League than the previous World Cup of football.
4. Wrestling
In rural India, wrestling has a strong energy, much like kabaddi. India has won numerous medals in different wrestling competitions. Wrestling, with Indians, has to do with the akhadda-style sport. The fundamentals of the sport don’t change, despite the fact that professional wrestling is very different from traditional Indian wrestling.
Since the 2008 Beijing Games, Indian grapplers have left a lasting impression on the international scene by taking home at least one medal from each Olympic Games. Sushil Kumar is one of the most successful Olympians from India, having won two medals. There are many grapplers who have participated in international competitions and won gold, including Sushil. Wrestling is now a popular sport in India as a result of the success of box office hits like Sultan and Dangal.
5. Boxing
The majority of young Indians will link boxing to WWE in their early memories. Professional boxing differs greatly from mixed martial arts (WWE) and other combat sports. The sport became popular in India with Vijender Singh’s 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medal win. Boxing is now a global source of several medals with the rise of an elite group of talented fighters representing India.
Notwithstanding every challenge, women’s boxer MC Mary Kom won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics. It’s also important to keep in mind that amateur boxing is the name of the Olympic-approved variation of the sport. Instead of turning the nation against itself, professional boxing sets fighters against one another.
6. Tennis
Tennis is an incredibly popular sport in India and has been there for a long time. In both the singles and doubles categories, India has produced some outstanding athletes. Leander Paes stands out among them all with his several Grand Slam victories.
International tennis stars grace Indian courts with their presence through events like the Chennai Open and the Maharashtra Open. Indian supporters also watch international competitions like the US Open and Wimbledon very carefully. Indian tennis is in for a thrilling future as new talent like Sumit Nagal emerges.
7. Football
Another sport that came to India during the British colonial era is football, or soccer. Indians have produced some of the best cricket players and teams in the world, but they haven’t yet enjoyed the same level of success in football.
India has never taken part in the World Cup, although received an invite to participate in 1950. This was after other Asian nations withdrew. The story was that Indians turned down the chance because they could not play barefoot.
Even with its lack of significant international achievements, football is still one of the most popular sports in India. It is a very common sport to watch and participate in.
8. Field Hockey
India’s national sport, hockey, is still striving to return to its prime of winning gold medals at every Olympic Games. Headed by Dhyan Chand, India dominated the world of hockey, winning over eight gold medals at the Olympics.
Indian players, used to playing on real grass fields, found it difficult to adjust to the new regulations. The rule included the building of an artificial playing surface. Worse, when other countries like Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany caught up to India’s dominance, the hockey federation’s ongoing tensions caused Indian hockey to gradually fall apart.The popularity of hockey went down since then.
Even while there are brief moments when it seems like the hockey scene is rebounding, the enormous structural problems with the game always seem to pull it down.The IPL model is the basis for the hockey league in India, as it is for many other popular sports. In 2013, the Hockey India League (HIL) was put in place with the goal of raising hockey’s profile in the broader public.
9. Chess
Given that it evolved from the old game of chaturanga, chess has a long history in India. India has produced a number of grandmasters, the most notable of whom being five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand.
India’s love for chess has grown as a result of its players’ outstanding results on international stages, such as the Chess Olympiad. This love has earned it a spot in our list of most popular sports in India. For aspiring players, national events and competitions such as the National Premier Chess Championship serve as a springboard.
The nation’s interest in chess additionally increased due to the accessibility of online chess sites.
10. Shooting
With Indian shooters often winning medals in international tournaments, shooting is growing significantly in India in recent years. The greatest icon in the sport is still Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008.
The growth of the sport has also been driven by domestic shooting contests like the Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Championships. Indian shooters like Manu Bhaker and Gagan Narang are raising interest in their country in the shooting community by leaving their imprint at international competitions.
With ongoing infrastructural developments and the rise of gifted athletes, India’s shooting situation appears to have a bright future.
There you have it! Our top 10 most popular sports in India! Every Indian who enjoys sports, be it football, cricket, or another kind, awaits the chance to witness an authentic and pure show. Similar to how movies, art, and theatre are important, sports are as well. Not only do professional athletes serve as public spectators, but they also serve as role models for young Indians.
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