What are the 5 Most Popular Sports in India?

India is a country that loves its sports! Whether we are tuning in to watch big matches played by professional teams or we are getting together in our free time for simple matches between friends, there are so many sports options to choose from. Let’s take a closer look at five of the most popular sports you will find in India.

Cricket

Cricket is loved all over India, and you can find it being played from small games in schools all the way up to international Test games against some of the other great cricket playing nations of the world. The Board of Control for Cricket knows how to ensure that this sport is kept at the forefront of people’s minds, and we have produced some of the finest cricket players in the world.

Football

Though it is one of the most popular sports around the world, football is only the second most popular sport in India. You will frequently find matches available on TV to watch, whether these are Indian games or international ones. By taking a look at football odds at sites like comeon-india.com, you can also find out what could be happening in these matches. While the national team might not rank very well, India has had the privilege of hosting others thanks to the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Field Hockey

Field hockey is one of India’s national sports and our teams have always done wonderfully when playing at an international level. We have picked up countless medals over the years, including 8 golds from the Olympics. Both the men and women’s teams always represent India well when they step out onto the pitch to start playing.

Badminton

Though we might watch football and field hockey more, badminton is the second most played sport in India, after the almighty cricket – of course. Managed by the Badminton Association of India, you will always find some amazing players waiting to take to the courts either as a home or international player. We have even managed to pick up several Olympic medals in the sport over the years.

Tennis

Finally, we have tennis. Though the Grand Slams might take place in other countries, India is still able to offer plenty if you are searching for a competitive game of tennis. It is a very popular game amongst the youth of the country, and is played in many schools. Though we tend not to do so well in the singles tournaments, we can certainly hold our own in the doubles and mixed doubles.

These are just five of the sports that Indians love to play and follow. We love our sports and any chance we can get to play them is always looked upon fondly. Take the time to find out what sports can be found in your local area. You might be surprised to learn about some of the amazing games that you could join in on that are happening right on your doorstep.