Throughout the history of India, sports have always been an essential part of the country’s culture and tradition. This is evident in the prominence of a wide range of indigenous sports and tribal games today. Though several modern sports have dominated the Indian sporting sector in recent years, this dominance has not kicked indigenous games entirely out of the mix. The Indian nation is known for its diverse sports ranging from local games such as kabaddi, Kho-Kho, and Gilidanda to modern mainstream sports such as hockey, football, basketball, tennis, cricket, etc.
The developments witnessed by the Indian sports sector in recent years are quite rapid. This is evident in the general increase in the percentage of both active and passive involvement in sports. However, because of the country’s diversity, the rate of participation and involvement in sports differs with individual states in the country. Some states are known for racket sports such as tennis and squash, while others are identified with sports like football, kabaddi, basketball, hockey, and cricket. However, this diversity doesn’t in any way decrease the burgeoning growth of notable sports leagues in the country, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Indian Super League (ISL), Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), among others. You can visit https://parimatch.in/en/top-sport-events to know more about sports events in India.
Overall, individual states have different sporting cultures in terms of their active participation and impact on the state of sports in India.
This article will discuss some of the Indian states with the best sporting culture.
Kerala
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The Kerala state of India is one of the smallest states in India geographically and in terms of population – being just about one percent of India’s total geographical area. However, it is one of the major powerhouses of Indian sports. Alongside football, volleyball is one of the most popular sports in the state, and Kerala has produced some of the finest volleyball stars, such as the renowned Jimmy George. Although cricket is the primary sport in India, it is not as prominent as football and volleyball in Kerala.
Haryana
Despite being about 2 percent of the entire Indian national population, Haryana has always been a breeding ground for some of the biggest names in Indian sports. In the past decade, the state has been one of the leading states in sports such as boxing and wrestling. In fact, in the 2018 CommonWealth Games in Gold Coast, which saw India win 66 medals, 22 were won by athletes from Haryana. Likewise, 19 of the medals won by India in Glasgow, and 27 of those from the New Delhi CommonWealth Games were won by athletes from Haryana. A common idea among Indians is that dominance in sports like wrestling and boxing may result from the robust physique that is characteristic of the Haryana people.
Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu state of India is mainly known for chess and cricket. The state has produced several athletes and players who have made significant impacts and achievements in the world of sports, particularly in chess and cricket. Over the years, the state has produced many fantastic cricketers like Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Lakshmipathi Balaji, and Ravichandran Ashwin, among many more as well 24 chess grandmasters out of the total 66 in India. An outstanding record, to say the least.
Manipur
The Manipur state of India has been known to have a long-standing sports tradition. It is one of the Indian states with the best sporting culture. The state is widely known for football because it has produced quite many iconic players who have made quite an indelible mark in both male and female football, including Dheeraj Singh, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Udanta Singh Kumam, Jeakson Singh, as well as Bala Devi, and Bembem Devi – two most popular Indian female footballers. Manipur is also home to MC Mary Kom, a six-time world champion in boxing.
Maharashtra
In the nation of India as a whole, cricket has always been known to be the most popular sport. However, because sports is one significant aspect of the Maharashtra culture, it is known for other sports such as kabaddi, hockey, Kho-Kho, badminton, and table tennis, which are widely played around the state.
Maharashtra has contributed a great deal to the Indian hockey legacy because it has produced many hockey stars who have made an indelible impact both on national and international stages. The state is also home to one of the most popular wrestlers, Khashaba Jadhav, the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in an individual sport.
Conclusion
Sports are one majorly important part of the Indian diverse culture. There is a wide range of them in India today, ranging from indigenous to more modern ones, which are distributed differently based on what is most suited to the environment of a particular culture. Visit Parimatch today for an opportunity to bet on your favorite sport online.
