{"id":39893,"date":"2022-10-07T12:56:26","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T07:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ischoolconnect.com\/blog\/?p=39893"},"modified":"2025-02-05T17:18:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T11:48:17","slug":"what-is-the-national-game-of-india-hockey-kabaddi-or-cricket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ischoolconnect.com\/blog\/what-is-the-national-game-of-india-hockey-kabaddi-or-cricket\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the National Game of India? Hockey, Kabaddi or Cricket"},"content":{"rendered":"

History of Sports<\/b><\/h2>\n

The history of documented sports goes back to 3,000 years. Originated out of the need to prepare for war or training as a hunter, sporting games were largely defined by throwing spears, stakes, etc. A number of sports have evolved over time that keep humans not just entertained and healthy but yield in terms of social interactions, teamwork, and leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n

India\u2019s sport history goes back thousands of years to the Vedic age. India is a sports loving nation, and according to a latest report Ormax media more than 136 million people in the country consume sports content on TV or OTT platforms. So does the nation that eats, breathes, and lives sports, have a national game of its own? Let\u2019s find out!<\/span><\/p>\n

Explore: <\/b>Study Abroad after 12th For Indian Students\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is the National Game of India?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Countries worldwide have declared different sports as their national sport, for they reflect the particular nation\u2019s culture. While India has many popular sports, such as cricket, kabaddi, hockey, badminton, etc., it doesn\u2019t have a national sport. Yes, contrary to the popularly held notion that hockey is the <\/span>national game of India, you will be surprised to know that India doesn\u2019t have an officially recognized national sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

The government in India acknowledges the importance of all sports and does not want to set a hierarchy of preference. It wants to encourage and promote all popular sports.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why did Indians Believe Hockey to be the National Game of India?<\/b><\/h2>\n

For many years, we were under the impression that hockey was India\u2019s national sport. Understanding why most Indians saw hockey as their national sport is critical. Hockey is one of the oldest sports, having been legalized in 1925. The Indian Hockey Federation sanctioned the sport. India has consistently been one of the best teams in the world in this sport.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Indian team has performed admirably in almost every field hockey event, including the Olympics, World Cups, and other tournaments. India\u2019s men\u2019s and women\u2019s hockey teams have shown the rest of the world the country\u2019s sporting prowess. People believed that hockey was \u2018Bharat ka Rashtriya Khel\u2019 because of its success rate and popularity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Achievements of the Indian Hockey Team during the Olympics<\/b><\/h2>\n

As previously stated, India\u2019s hockey team has accomplished so much that the game is considered the \u2018Bharat ka Rashtriya Khel\u2019 by the people. This section details the Indian hockey team\u2019s Olympic achievements over the years. In this sport, the team has won 13 medals and has performed admirably in previous years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Venue\/Olympics name<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Year<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Achievements<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Amsterdam Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1928<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Los Angeles Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1932<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Berlin Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1936<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

London Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1948<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Helsinki Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1952<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Melbourne Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1956<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Rome Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1960<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Silver medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tokyo Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1964<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Mexico City Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1968<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bronze medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Munich Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1972<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bronze medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Montreal Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1976<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Moscow Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1980<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Los Angeles Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1984<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Seoul Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1988<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Barcelona Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1992<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Atlanta Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1996<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Sydney Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Athens Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2004<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Beijing Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2008<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Did not qualify<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

London Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2012<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Rio Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2016<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8th position<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tokyo Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2020<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bronze medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Paris Olympics<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bronze medal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Why are Cricket and Kabaddi not the National Game of India?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Cricket only gained popularity in India after hockey had already established itself. In 1983, our country\u2019s team won its first World Cup, bringing this sport to prominence.<\/span> Cricket<\/a> has become a household name due to its well-known players and current success rates. Kabaddi is another sport in which India has performed extraordinarily.<\/p>\n

Kabaddi is extremely popular in several northern states, and its athletes have excelled in numerous sporting competitions. Cricket and kabaddi are not the national games of India<\/a> because they are not easily accessible throughout the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more: <\/b>9 things you need to know about studying Sports Management abroad<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Why does India not have a National Game?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A school teacher from Maharashtra\u2019s Dhule district filed a Right to Information (RTI) request with the government in 2020, asking when did the country designate hockey as India\u2019s national sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe government has not declared any sport\/game as the national game of the country,\u201d the ministry of youth affairs and sports responded. \u201cThe government\u2019s objective is to encourage\/promote all popular sports disciplines.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, following India\u2019s outstanding performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, calls to make hockey the national sport have grown louder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Discover: <\/b>Best Sports Programs in New Zealand<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is the Importance of having a National Sport?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Though India does not have a national sport, the following are significant reasons to have a national sport-<\/span><\/p>\n