Unlike other countries, India is not a major sporting power. The lackadaisical attitude of the government results in just a medal or two in the Olympics and no trophies to boast of in sports other than cricket. Here are the status of sports in India. The mystery of the missing medals (http://www.sportstaronnet.com/tss2738/stories/20040918005300800.htm) -- India's performance in Olympics: an in-depth study published in The Sportstar. For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket Portal. ...

Cricket

Cricket is by far India's most popular sport. It outstrips all other sports played in India combined, in terms of viewership, media coverage and money involved. The rise in cricket's fortunes started in the early 90's after sponsorship of top players. By the turn of the century, it has become a billion dollar industry making it the country's unofficial passtime. Although the Indian cricket team has won a sole Cricket World Cup, cricket is like a religion in the country. Victories over arch rivals Pakistan and World Champions Australia in their home have propelled India to #2. But recently the team has been going through tough times. It lost to Australia at home(India). Cricket is played throughout India except in the North East states. For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket Portal. ... The Indian Cricket team is a renowned and respected team in the world. ... The Cricket World Cup is the world championship of one-day cricket, a tournament held quadrenially between all Test cricket playing nations, as well as several representatives from other cricket-playing nations who qualify through a series of qualifying matches. ...

Football

Football (soccer) is a very popular sport in India. Although the Indian football team is ranked 139 in the FIFA rankings, the team had better days reaching the semifinals in the Olympics way back in the 1940's & 1950's. Most Indians keenly follow local clubs as well as South American and European club matches. The sport is most popular in Goa, West Bengal and Kerala. The striker (wearing red jersey) has run past the defender (in white jersey) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to stop the ball. ... FIFA logo (usage restricted): For the Good of the Game Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the international governing body of the sport of association football (called simply football or soccer). ... Two letter code GA Country India Capital — Administrative — Judicial1   — Panaji — Mumbai Location — Latitude — Longitude   — 15° N — 73° E Governor SC Jamir Chief Minister Prataph Sing Rane State language Konkani Liberation Day December 19, 1961 Statehood Day May 30, 1987 Population 1. ... West Bengal (পশ্চিম বঙ্গ, Pôščim Bôngô) is a state in the northeast of India. ... Kerala (or Keralam) is a state in South India, occupying a narrow strip of Indias southwestern coast. ...

Field Hockey

Although India's national sport, Hockey has fallen into decline due to Cricket. From being an invincible team upto the 80's, the team has fallen on hard times. Recent victories haven't changed that perspective much, although it remains to be seen if India can reproduce its past magic and win trophies again. A game of field hockey in progress Field Hockey is a popular sport for men and women in many countries around the world. ...

Lawn Tennis

Tennis is popular among Indians. Many people do watch the Grand Slams. However India's fortunes in the Grand Slams are nil. The best result in Tennis for India has been placed 2nd in the Davis Cup (default as they refused to play against apartheid South Africa). However India have won quite a few doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam trophies along with a bronze Olympic medal in 1996. Tennis is a racquet sport played between either two players (singles) or two teams of two players (doubles). Player(s) use a stringed racquet to strike a hollow rubber ball over a net into the opponents court. ... Apartheid (International Phonetic Alphabet or in English and in Afrikaans) is the policy and the system of laws implemented and continued by White minority governments in South Africa from 1948 till 1990; and by extension any legally sanctioned system of racial segregation. ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Chess

The board game of Chess originated in India in thousands of years ago. India's first Grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand helped popularise the sport en masse. After him there have been a further 7 more GM's from India. Chess today is a very popular sport all over India. From left, a white king, black rook and queen, white pawn, black knight, and white bishop in Staunton chess pieces. ... The title International Grandmaster is awarded to superb chess players by the world chess organization FIDE. It is a lifetime title, in chess literature usually abbreviated as GM or IGM (this is in contrast to WGM for Woman Grandmaster and IM for International Master). ... Viswanathan Anand (born December 11, 1969) is an Indian chess grandmaster. ...

Kabaddi

Kabaddi originated from Punjab and requires strength, stamina, agility and most importantly hand eye cordination. This sport is played by a person called a "raider" goes to one side where 4 teamates will be holding hands in a semi-circle. The raider has to try to touch on of the teamates and run back to his line. But the teamates holding hands can grab the raider and knock him down, which will earn his team a point. These are just the simple rules, there are more complexed rules. Kabaddi or Kabadi is a team pursuit sport, primarily played in India. ...

F1

The Formula One motor racing sports is catching up all over urban India. It is one of the fastest growing sports as far as viewship is involved. Beginning in 2005 - the current F1 season - has Narain karthikeyan driving for team Jordan. Though no F1 circuits are in India at present, a F3 circuit is being planned. Formula One, abbreviated to F1 and also known as Grand Prix racing, is a form of formula racing and the highest class of single-seat open-wheel auto racing. ...

Badminton

Badminton is supposed to have originated in India. Although India is not among the top teams, it does produce players of high international ranking. Badminton is a popular recreation sport all over India. This article is about the racquet sport badminton. ...

Boxing

Boxing is one of the lesser profiled sports in India. Boxing does have school and national championship matches. However India is yet to produce a heavyweight champion. For other meanings of boxer, see Boxer (disambiguation). ...

Basketball

Basketball is primaraly a school sport in India. The game is popular in most urban schools. However at higher levels, the sport has a very poor profile. Basketball Basketball is a ball sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop. ...

Rugby

The British introduced Rugby to India. However it is not very popular in the country. It is mostly played in schools. Rugby is club based and national championships (South Asia) are held every year at the Bombay Gymkhana, Bombay in August. This article discusses the sport Rugby. For other uses see Rugby. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ...

Golf

Golf is a sport that is becoming popular in India. There are numerous golf courses all over India. However, the sport is expensive and mostly corporates and the rich play the sport. Golfer teeing off at the start of a hole Golf is an outdoor game where individual players or teams play a small ball into a hole using various clubs. ...

Billiards and Snooker

Billiards and Snooker are popular club sports in India. India has produced players of international ranking, Geet Sethi and Michael Ferreira to name some. Pool table with cue ball, object balls, cue stick, and rack Billiards is a game played on a table with low rubber boundary around the edges, small balls, and a stick or cue used to push the white ball into other balls. ... Snooker table Snooker is a billiards game played on a baize-covered table that has pockets in all four corners and in the middle of each of the long cushions. ...

Volleyball

Volleyball is a sport played all over India, both in rural as well as urban India. It is a popular recreation sport but India does not have a world class team as yet. Volleyball is a popular sport where teams separated by a high net hit a ball back and forth between the teams. ...

Table Tennis

A popular indoor club sport, Table Tennis is a popular recreation sport all over the country. Regional competition level table tennis, showing table, net, and player getting ready to return the ball with a winning backhand topspin stroke. ...

Squash

Squash is an 'elite' recreation sport, played in clubs in urban areas. Squash racquet and ball Squash is an indoor racquet sport which was, until recently, called Squash Rackets, a reference to the squashable soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball used in its parent game Racquets or Rackets--see below). ...

Swimming

Another summer sport.

Pool

Anoter summer sport.

Bowling

A popular recreation sport, often played with bowling balls and pins.

Polo

Supposed to have originated in India. Popular in the Indian army as well as in northern India

Horse Racing

Horse racing derbies are held in many cities in the winter season.

Sailing

Popular among navy sailors and those attached to sailing clubs.

Gymnastics

Almost non existent after school level

Throwball

A woman's sport played mostly at school level.

Baseball & Softball

These sports have recently started to show up. Softball is played at school level especially in Kerala. Kerala (or Keralam) is a state in South India, occupying a narrow strip of Indias southwestern coast. ...

Ice Hockey

Though still in a primitive stage, the first national championship was held in Jammu & Kashmir in 2003. Jammu and Kashmir is a historic state in Asia which is currently disputed between India, Pakistan, and to a lesser extent, China. ...

Snow Sports

Except for sking, snow sports are non existent, mainly due to the lack of snow except in the extreme north.

Others

Koozahngal
This is a game played in South Part of India.

Kho-Kho
This is an old game of speed and cunning involving many individuals.

American Football is non existent in India both in terms of viewership and profile. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ...

Links

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (http://yas.nic.in/)
Budget for Sports in India (http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2005-06/bag/bag4-2.pdf)