Sport in India

India has a history of sports dating back to the Vedic period, with Western sports having been imported during British rule. Cricket is the most popular sport in India, enjoyed across the country, but especially popular in the northern, western, and central regions. Football is the second most popular sport, with strong following in northeast, Jammu and Kashmir in the north and along the coastal belt in states like West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa. Kabaddi is the third most popular, followed by field hockey and badminton. Cricket, football and kabaddi have a fanbase of 612 million, 305 million and 208 million people, respectively. This means approx 42% of the population follows cricket, 21% follows football and 14% follows kabaddi.

Cricket generates the highest television viewership, with the Indian Premier League being the most-followed sports league in the country. India's national cricket teams are among the most successful in the world. The men's team has won two ODI World Cups, three T20 World Cups and three Champions Trophies. The women's team has also won the ODI World Cup and a silver at the Commonwealth Games.

Football enjoys some popularity, with the Indian Super League and Indian Women's League being the highest level of domestic football. The men's team has won many gold medals at the Asian Games and South Asian Games. India has also reached the fourth place of the 1956 Olympics, qualified for the 1950 World Cup, finished as runners-up in 1964 Asian Cup, won the 2008 Challenge Cup and won the SAFF Championship multiple times. The women’s team have been finalists in the 1980 and 1983 Asian Cup, secured third place in 1981, and won the SAFF Championship multiple times.

India has also had success in field hockey, with the men's team winning the World Cup in 1975. It is the nation's most successful sport at the Olympics, winning 13 medals, eight of which are gold. Other popular sports include kabaddi, badminton, tennis, athletics and kho-kho. Sports such as golf, rugby, wrestling, boxing, motorsport, and basketball are also enjoyed in the country.

India's diverse culture and people have influenced the wide variety of sports, with indigenous sports such as fighter kite and boat racing being popular in some regions. Other indigenous or India-originated sports include chess, kho-kho, polo, and snooker, with popularity varying by region. Water sports, like scuba diving, boating, surfing, and kiteboarding, frequently appear in coastal areas. Professional wrestling and mixed martial arts are popular among young audiences, with Indian wrestlers achieving international success. India has hosted the Men's and Women's Cricket World Cup many times. Although it is not considered a professional sport, cycling is a recreational activity and exercise in India.

Domestic professional commercial sports leagues in the country including Indian Premier League (Cricket) Women's Premier League (Cricket), Indian Super League (Football), I-League (Football), Indian Women's League (Football), Pro Kabbadi (Kabbadi), Tennis Premier League (Tennis), Hockey India League (Hockey), Premier Badminton League (Badminton), Ultimate Table Tennis League (Table Tennis), Premier Handball League (Handball), Prime Volleyball League (Volleyball) and Ultimate Kho Kho (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). Since the launch of the Pro Kabaddi League, kabaddi has become one of India's fastest-growing sports. The sport has garnered substantial television viewership, contributing to its popularity and elevating its monetary value. Women's sports have also grown in India, with professional leagues including the Women's Premier League and Women's Kabaddi League.

India has hosted several international sporting events, including two editions of the Asian Games, three editions of the South Asian Games, the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and seven men's and five women's cricket world championships. India has hosted four editions of the SAFF Championship, the SAFF Women's Championship in 2016, two editions of the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 1980 and 2022, and one junior FIFA World Cup world for each gender in football (2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup). India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2031 Cricket World Cup.


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