What is the national game of India is a question that has been debated recently. You’re not the only one if field hockey comes to your mind.
India’s hockey heritage is indispensable, and the nation has achieved great success in the sport. Every Indian has a particular place in their heart for hockey, from Major Dhyan Chand’s iconic performance in the 1936 Berlin Olympics to India’s magnificent comeback to form in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
But is hockey truly India’s national game? You’ll be shocked to hear the response.
So, is hockey the national game of India?
India does not have hockey as its national sport. You did read correctly. India does not have hockey as its national sport. To be precise, there isn’t a national sport or game in India. Because it has such historical significance, everyone saved the government and believed for a long time that hockey was India’s national sport.
Since field hockey, cricket, and kabaddi are India’s most popular and often played sports, people frequently mistake them for the country’s national sports. Surprisingly, they’re not. The Indian government promotes all games equally and does not favor any over the others.
Why does India not have a game that represents the country?
A school teacher from Maharashtra’s Dhule district named Mayuresh Agrawal submitted an RTI (Right to Information) request to the government in 2020 to find out when hockey was designated as the country’s national sport. The Union Ministry of Youth’s official response was as follows: “The government has not declared any sport or game as the National Game of the country, as the objective of the government is to encourage/promote all popular sports disciplines.”
Should we have one?
With a population of one billion, India is possibly the most culturally varied nation on earth. India too lacks a national language. There is debate over the imposition of a single language on an entire country, but in athletics, there is no such division.
People may come together via sports, as seen by the national hockey and cricket teams. Gamers from throughout the nation take part with equal zeal. So, the question is raised: Should India announce a national sport?
India is not the only nation lacking an official national sport. Table tennis serves as the unofficial national sport of China, despite the country lacking one officially. However, given the rich cultural heritage of India and the current surge in sports popularity, the country needs to have a national sport.
What should be “The National Game of India”?
Field hockey is the best option to represent India in a national sport. There are various justifications for making hockey India’s national sport.
In hockey, India won the most gold medals in the Olympics and was all but unbeatable between 1928 and 1956. India dominated the 1936 Berlin Olympics, held in Hitler’s backyard. They only let up one goal in the whole competition, defeating Germany, France, and the United States in the finals. Team India is back on the rise after a brief hiatus, having won their first Olympic field hockey medal since 1980 in the 2020 Games.
In India cricket is the most popular sport. Holidays are typically taken by people during significant cricket matches. Today’s cricket players are celebrities because of their many sponsors and the affection of their supporters.
Another sport that is gaining popularity quickly is Kabaddi. In addition to being an Asian Games event since 1990, it was already well-known as a folk sport in India. It is also being pushed for inclusion in the 2024 Olympics by the government.
Conclusion
India doesn’t have a national sport since the government doesn’t want to elevate any particular sport above others. Although there are benefits and drawbacks to this logic, we will have to settle for living without a national game for the time being.
The three most popular options for India’s national game are hockey, cricket, and kabaddi. If the government decides to name a national sport or game in the future, it’s likely to be one of these three.
FAQs:
Q1. What is India’s national game?
Ans: India does not have a national game. Because of its historical significance, hockey is sometimes mistakenly seen as the national sport; however, it is untrue. The Indian government does not wish to promote any one sport over another and views all sports equally. For this reason, neither hockey nor cricket are recognized as India’s national sports.
Q2. Is cricket India’s national sport?
Ans: Although it is not India’s national sport, cricket is the most popular sport in the Indian subcontinent.
Q3. Why does India not have hockey as its national sport?
Ans: For the Indian subcontinent, field hockey—also known as “hockey” in the southern hemisphere—has a long history. Hockey gold medals have been won by Pakistan and India at the Olympics. From 1928 to 1956, India reigned as Olympic champions and even defeated Hitler’s Germany at the 1936 Berlin Games. For many years, hockey was mistakenly thought to be the national sport of India; however, the Indian government has made it clear that hockey is not and has never been the country’s official national sport.
