Sports

India's official national sport is field hockey, administered by the Federation of Indian hockey. The Indian team field hockey won the 1975 men in the World Cup of Hockey and 8 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals at the Olympics. However, cricket is the most popular sport in India, the national cricket team won the Cricket World Cup 1983 and 2007, ICC World Twenty20, and shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka. Cricket in India is administered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and the national Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy for the Deodhar Trophy, Irani Trophy and the Challenger Series. In addition, the Indian Cricket League Indian Premier League, organize and Twenty20 competitions.

Tennis has become increasingly popular, thanks to victories in India, the team of Davis Cup. Association football is a popular sport in northern India, West Bengal, Goa and Kerala. The Indian national football team won the South Asian Football Federation Cup on several occasions. Chess, commonly regarded as having originated in India, is also increasingly popular with the rising number of Indians Grandmasters. Traditional sports include kabaddi, kho kho, and gilli-Danda, which are played at the national level. India is also the former martial arts and Kalarippayattu Varma Kalai.




 

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award in India are the highest awards for his achievements in sport, while the Dronacharya Award is awarded for excellence in training. India has hosted and co-host the 1951 Asian Games and the 1982, 1987 and 1996 World Cup cricket. He is also scheduled to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games and World Cup Cricket 2011.