Field Hockey Sport in India

Indian hockey history begins with the British soldier colonial era. From 1885 to 1886 Calcutta became the first city to form a hockey club followed by Bombay and Punjab. India first hockey association was founded in 1908 and was called the Bengal Hockey Association. Organizations appeared in cities like Bombay, Bihar, Orissa and Delhi as the game gained popularity.

India took home the gold medal in hockey at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. India has won the Olympic Hockey Championship five times running. India’s successful Olympic hockey campaign was the reason the Indian Hockey Federation became well-known. Dhyan Chand, Allen, Norris, Pinniger, Yusuf Gateley and Cullen were the top Indian hockey players.

Hockey is also being played by women in India. Hockey for women has been included in the Asiad 82. They play at a quite high level. The athletes have been helped to achieve a notable level of performance through a series of coaching camps. In this Blog, we will discuss the Top 20 Hockey players in India.

Related blog: Top 20 Cricket Players in India 

Here, we’re going to look at some of the legendary players of hockey sport in India who are known for delivering brilliant performance and in India’s triumph at various tournaments held nationally and internationally.

20 Famous Hockey Players of India

The following (list sorted in alphabetical order) are twenty famous hockey players of India that are legends of the sport.

1. Ajit Pal Singh

Ajit Pal Singh made his debut in the Indian hockey team in 1960. He went on to establish himself as a key member of the squad and represented India at three Olympics. The high in his career came in the year 1975, when the team he was part of wrote history to win the World Cup in 1975.

The former captain of the Indian hockey team will be recognised as amongst the most extraordinary centre-half players in the world. Ajit Pal Singh played a very prominent role in winning their only World Cup in 1975.

2. Akashdeep Singh

Akashdeep Singh is the forward position player for the Indian hockey team. He rose through the ranks of domestic tournaments and currently plays for Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the Hockey League and the Indian Hockey national team. He also was the captain of the youth India hockey and represents the senior team since 2013.

He represented India in the 2016 Olympics in Rio and again in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He delivered a brilliant performance at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy and was awarded the player of the tournament award. He scored a total of 33 goals in over 170 matches played.

3. Balbir Singh Sr.

Balbir Singh, also popularly known as Balbir Singh Sr., played as the centre-forwards player for the Indian hockey team in 1948. In the match he scored eight goals in two matches and the team brought home the Olympic hockey gold medal in that year.

Balbir Singh Sr., would go on to become India’s most integral hockey player in the following years as he led the team to a second hat-trick winning golds at the Olympics. He scored five goals in the Helsinki 1952 finals, a record which stands to this day. He was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour in 1957.

4. Deepak Thakur

Deepak Thakur is a forward position player for the Indian hockey team. He represented India in the 1999 Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur, 2001 Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup at Hobart, 2002 Asian Games at Busan, 2003 Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur and the 2010 Commonwealth Games at New Delhi.

For his best performance in hockey, Deepak Thakur was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2004.

5. Dhanraj Pillay

Dhanraj Pillay was one of the finest hockey players of India. He made his debut in the Indian hockey team in 1989 and has played four Olympics, four World Cups, four Asian Games, and four Champions Trophy tournaments throughout his career.

He played as the attacker against the defenders for the team. Renowned for his burst of pace which left defenders in his wake and combined with his ability to pick the perfect pass, he became one of the best attackers in international hockey in the 1990s.

He also led the Indian hockey team to the Asian Games, where the team won a gold in 1998 and a maiden victory at the 2003 Asia Cup. For his performance at hockey, Pillay was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1995.

6. Dhyan Chand

Dhyan Chand made his Olympic debut with the Indian hockey team at Amsterdam in 1928 and scored 14 goals, winning him a gold medal. He would go on to win two more gold medals in consecutive Olympic Games which were held at Los Angeles in 1932 and as team captain in Berlin in 1936.

He went on to complete hat-tricks in two Olympic finals and retired with an unbeaten Olympic record to his name.

7. Gagan Ajit Singh

Gagan Ajit Singh is undoubtedly recognized as one of the leading forwards in the Indian hockey team. During his tenure, the Indian junior hockey team triumphed in the junior world cup of 2001 under his exceptional leadership. He also represented India in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics, where the team finished seventh in both editions.

Gagan, an esteemed player from Air India, achieved remarkable milestones in his hockey career. In the 1997 All India Gurmit Singh Tournament and Jawaharlal Nehru Tournament, he set a record for scoring the highest number of goals. Additionally, his exceptional skill led him to be the sole player from India selected for the Asian Men’s Hockey group in 2002. Gagan’s outstanding contributions to the sport were recognized by the Indian government when he was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in the same year, 2002.

8. Harmanpreet Singh

Harmanpreet Singh is a promising player who strives to take the sport of Indian hockey ahead, which is why he appears side by side with the names of famous hockey players in India. He scored a total of 56 goals in over 100 matches and gave his best performance at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy tournament.

Harman’s stick play and defending skill has time and again left the audience mesmerised. His goal-scoring power and macho persona have won hearts of fans across the continent.

9. K. D. Singh

K. D. Singh or Kunwar Digvijay Singh, fondly known as “Babu” among his team-mates, was an outstanding Indian hockey player. Regarded as one of the finest inside rights in the history of Indian hockey, his skills and contributions remain unparalleled.

He has the honor of being awarded the Padma Shri in 1960 and has achieved gold medals in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics.

10. Leslie Claudius

Leslie Claudius was the first player to have represented India in four consecutive Olympics and win 100 caps. A rock at the back, Claudius was full of energy and running. A leader on the pitch, he always held the back-line together and led from the front.

Claudius has won the most Olympic medals – 3 Gold and 1 Silver for India. He is considered to be the best half-back in the history of the sport.

11. Manpreet Singh

Currently, the captain and half-back position player of the Indian national hockey team is Manpreet Singh. Manpreet is renowned for his vibrant personality, exceptional leadership abilities, and commendable on-field support. He showcased his remarkable skills and leadership qualities during the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, where he led the Indian hockey team to their best performance. Manpreet is widely recognized as the most highly regarded hockey player in India at present.

Manpreet has actively participated in numerous tournaments, contributing to India’s success in winning four gold, five silver, and three bronze medals. With him leading the national team, the future of Indian hockey appears promising. Manpreet’s name is on the path to becoming synonymous with famous hockey players in India. Furthermore, his recent accomplishment of receiving the FIH Player of the Year 2019 award highlights his exceptional skills and talent.

12. Mohammad Shahid

Mohammad Shahid was one of the skilled Indian hockey players. He made his debut in the Indian Hockey Junior team in 1979, and in 1980, he was included in the Olympics squad. Shahid played as an attacking winger for the team. The Indian hockey team had won their eighth and final gold medal to date at the Olympic Games held in Moscow in 1980. It was also India’s last Olympic medal in hockey.

He continued to etch his name as one of the finest hockey players in India in the coming decade, highlighted by winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games in 1986. Shahid retired from hockey in 1989.

13. P. R. Sreejesh

P. R. Sreejesh stands as the most skilled goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team. His penalty-saving performance at the Asian Champions Trophy in 2011 against Pakistan brightened his career. His shot-stopping skills have firmly established him as one of the top goalkeepers in the world.

P. R. Sreejesh, the esteemed Indian hockey player, provided remarkable contributions to the Indian hockey team. In the inaugural FIH Pro League campaign in 2020, Sreejesh served as the captain and played a pivotal role in guiding the team to an impressive four victories. Notably, he showcased his expertise in defending penalty shots, successfully securing triumphs for his team in two such crucial moments. Additionally, Sreejesh exhibited exceptional skills and performance at the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, earning him the prestigious title of Player of the Tournament.

14. Roop Singh

Roop scored goals in a more understated manner than Dhyan Chand although he was still brilliant when he was not in the spotlight. Roop Singh participated in the 1932 Olympic Games for the first time and outscored his brother in the Los Angeles Olympics. Roop Singh was on a scorching streak scoring an incredible 13 goals in two games.

He scored ten goals on his own in the decisive match against the USA. Roop Singh played a key role in India gold medal victory at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. He was the only Indian player to score in every game with nine goals. 

15. S. K. Uthappa

S. K. Uthappa is a midfield position player for the Indian hockey team. He made his debut in hockey in 2012. Since then, he has effectively participated in more than 100 international matches and has scored over 10 goals.

His experience and aggressive play style have made him one of the famous hockey players in India. He also captained the Indian hockey team at the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy tournament. Uthappa received the Ekalavya award in 2014 for his fantastic performance on the field.

16. Sandeep Singh

Sandeep Singh, an Indian field hockey player, captained the Indian team in the 2009 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where they emerged victorious against Malaysia in the finals. Additionally, Singh played a crucial role in securing a silver medal for his team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

In 2010, he received the esteemed Arjuna Award as a recognition of his accomplishments. His remarkable journey served as the inspiration for the biographical film “Soorma,” which was released in 2018..

17. Sardara Singh

Sardara Singh, the former Indian field hockey player, served as the captain of the men’s national team from 2008 to 2016. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in leading the team to victory in the 2014 Asian Games held in Incheon, where they secured the gold medal.

Sardara Singh, in addition to his numerous achievements, clinched the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup held in Dhaka. Furthermore, his outstanding contributions to the field earned him the esteemed Padma Shri award in 2015.

18. Shankar Lakshman

Shankar Lakshman achieved great success as a goalkeeper for the Indian hockey team during the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympics, where the team secured two gold medals and one silver medal. Interestingly, he was also the first goalkeeper to be appointed captain of an international hockey team. Additionally, Lakshman served as the captain of the Indian team that triumphed with a gold medal in the 1966 Asian Games.

He was awarded the Arjuna award and the Padma Shri by the Indian government.

19. Udham Singh

Udham Singh was a solid rear-guard player of the Indian hockey team, but also had the ability to play as the inside-forward for the team. A player known for his finesse and fluency in his play, he was a treat to watch on the Indian side that dominated the 1950s.

He played in four Olympics, which were at Helsinki in 1952, Melbourne in 1956, Rome 1960 and Tokyo in 1964.

20. V. R. Raghunath

V. R. Raghunath, renowned for his exceptional skills as a fullback and drag-flicker, rose to prominence after making his debut in the 2003 sub-junior Asia Cup, where he helped lead the Indian team to victory. Throughout his illustrious career, Raghunath has achieved numerous accolades, including receiving the prestigious Arjuna Award. Notably, he has secured several medals, including a Commonwealth silver and an Asia Cup gold, solidifying his status as one of the best in the game of Indian hockey.

Raghunath scored more than 130 goals in over 220 matches. His performance in the international arena is visible from the statistics. He was adjudged the Best Player of the Asia Cup tournament in 2013 for his extraordinary contributions.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, while it has never been formally recognized hockey is the national sport of India. But by recreating hockey golden age we can officially declare this. The government does not now fund our hockey team but with our help they can restore hockey to its former grandeur.

Fun Fact!

India celebrates its National Sports Day annually on the 29th of August, that is on the birthday of India’s greatest hockey player, Dhyan Chand.

India participates in various world sports such as Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games etc. These types of tournaments and championships are held regularly i.e., annually or every four years.

20 Sports that are Popular in India

Here, we are going to take a quick look at twenty popular sports of India and we will also give a brief description on how each of these sports are played.

Note: The following list is arranged in alphabetical order and not ranked in any sort.

1. Athletics

Associated Tournament: Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games

Athletics is a popular outdoor sport in India. This running sport without the use of any equipment is pretty competitive and stimulating in nature.

The sport of athletics include different forms of race events, such as running, marathon, jumping hurdles, though with the exception of relay races and cross-country running. In this type of sport, individual representatives from different teams run on a track of a set distance, where the person reaching the finish line first wins the race.

Athletics has popularity not only in India, rather in all countries around the world. Athletes from all corners of the globe participate in various national and international games that are held every year.

2. Badminton

Associated Tournament: Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Thomas Cup, Uber Cup

Badminton is both an outdoor and indoor sport that is played in India as well as other countries. It is usually played by two players in a court, though this game can also be played in pairs of two by the players on each side. In this type of sport, the players use paddle bats called racquets (rackets) to bat the feathered shuttlecock across the net and pass it to one another without letting the shuttlecock fall on the ground. The shuttlecock is generally made of lightweight cork as base with trimmed feathers fixed around the top.

The game of badminton is believed to have originated several centuries ago, where it was played in different corners of the globe, and is known by different names in various parts of the world. Most notably, the game was invented from an old children’s game known as “battledore and shuttlecock”, and was later developed and renamed as ‘Badminton’.

Badminton is a popular sport in countries like India, Japan, China, North America, Greece and Europe.

3. Boat Racing

Associated Tournament: Indigenous Sport

Boat Racing is an eventful sport which is mainly enjoyed in the coastal regions of the Indian sub-continent. Boat racing is, in fact, an ancient sport. There exist other traditional and centuries old boat races like ‘Vallam Kali’ of Kerala, India and ‘Dragon Boat Race’ of China.

In this sport, people of South India contest in various boat races, wherein each team is comprised of several members who row their boats with oars to the finish line. The team who gets to the finish line first wins the contest and is awarded with a prize.

4. Bodybuilding

Associated Tournament: Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games

The Indian Body Building and Fitness Federation (IBFF) is recognised by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness as a national federation, representing the country’s bodybuilding community. The national federation is a member of the Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation.

In India, billboards featuring bodybuilders promoting supplements can be spotted near the national Institute of Sports offices. Over the last two decades, the fitness industry in India has experienced significant growth. This growth can be observed in various aspects such as personal training and sports nutrition. Moreover, there has been a remarkable rise in the overall awareness about fitness-related subjects among the general population.

5. Boxing

Associated Tournament: Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games

In India, the sport of boxing is overseen by the Boxing Federation of India, which governs and regulates boxing activities in the country. The primary focus of boxing in India is on amateur boxing, both at the national and international levels. While amateur boxing is the predominant form of the sport, there are only a handful of boxers who choose to pursue professional boxing as a career.

Boxing has experienced a significant surge in popularity, particularly in the state of Haryana. This Indian state has emerged as a notable producer of medallists across different weight divisions in the sport.

6. Chess

Associated Tournament: Olympiad, Asian Games, Asian Team Championship, World Team Championship

Chess is a popular indoor game of India. The game is also believed to have originated in the country way back during the ancient times. The All India Chess Federation is the governing body for chess in India.

The game of chess is played between two persons. The two ends of the chess board usually consist of 16 White and Black pieces, respectively for each opponent. The game is played by moving pieces using strategy, and taking out the opponent King (the term used here is “Check Mate!”), which ends the game.

7. Cricket

Associated Tournament: Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Indian Premier League (IPL), ICC World Cup, Asia Cup

Cricket is by far, the most popular sport in India that is played and loved by many in the country. This outdoor sport has gained significant rave among children and adults for decades. As such, cricket has become a predominant sport in the form of ‘gully’ cricket (street cricket), state tournaments, national championships and international leagues, as well. There is no doubt that cricket is enjoyed by a large section of the nation’s population.

The game of cricket is played by two teams inside of a centred pitch on a spacious ground. Each team is comprised of eleven players, including substitute players. Here, the participating players hit the ball bowled at them using bats and score points until the players batting at the pitch are dismissed via run out, stumped, hit wicket, catch out etc. The Umpire makes the decision of winning or losing in the game.

Cricket is a favourite sport not only in India, it is played in several countries like Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan etc., too.

8. Cycling

Associated Tournament: The Great Himalayan Ultra, Deccan Cliffhanger, National MTB Cycling Championships

Cycling in India is both a competitive and recreational sport. This sport has been taking place in the country since the 20th century. Cycling became popularised in Europe and North America in the latter part and especially in the last decade of the 19th century.

The responsibility of governing cycling in India lies with the Cycling Federation of India. To keep motivating cyclists in the country, the Indian Cycling League organizes GPS-based cycling races. It’s important to note that internationally, the sport of cycling is governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale, based in Switzerland.

In India, cycling is not widely recognized as a professional sport, yet it remains quite popular as a recreational activity. Many individuals engage in cycling as a common way to stay fit and active. Additionally, cycling serves as an excellent means of maintaining fitness levels.

9. Football

Associated Tournament: FIFA World Cup, Durand Cup, Super Cup, Asian Games

Football is another popular outdoor sport that is played and loved by many in India. Though in many countries such as in the United States, Australia, Canada and South Africa etc., football is better known as soccer.

The game of football is played between two teams of eleven players each, and having a goal-keeper from each team and a referee that takes decisions in the game. The entire game of football is usually of 90 minutes (45 minutes is the half-time) which is played on a spacious, rectangular field of trimmed grass. The players from each team are required to score as many goals by kicking or head-hitting the ball into the goal post, but not touching the ball by the hands. Thus, the team with the highest goals wins the match.

Football is played in various parts of the world, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, France, Hungary, Japan, China, South Africa, Canada, United States and several other countries.

10. Gymnastics

Associated Tournament: Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships, World Cup

Gymnastics is gaining popularity in India, though there are different forms of gymnastics performed in different parts of the world. The most common form of competitive gymnastics is called the Artistic Gymnastics (AG). In this sport, the female gymnasts use the events floor, vault, uneven bars, and beam; whereas the male gymnasts use the events floor, vault, rings, pommel horse, parallel bars, and horizontal bar to perform their skills.

Gymnastics is a type of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, co-ordination, and endurance.

11. Hockey

Associated Tournament: FIH World Cup, FIH Pro League, Olympic Games

Hockey, specifically field hockey, is a major outdoor sport which is played in India and it is also named as India’s national sport.

The game of outdoor field hockey is played between two teams, and having a goalkeeper for each team and a referee. The players from each team use curved wooden hockey sticks to control and strike the ball that is the size of a golf ball. The players strike the ball into the goal post in order to make scores of points, and the team with the highest score wins the game.

There are several forms of hockey which are played in different parts of the world. A few common examples of such types of hockey sport are ice hockey, roller hockey, floor hockey etc.

12. Kabaddi

Associated Tournament: Asian Games

Kabaddi is a popular sport in India which can be played both indoors and outdoors. The sport is majorly played in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. India has been first credited with having helped to popularise kabaddi as a competitive sport.

In the game of kabaddi, two teams, consisting of seven players each, compete against each other on a court. Points are earned when a player from one team tags an opponent from the other team, while the opposing team earns a point for successfully stopping the raider. If a player is touched or tackled by the opposing team, they are temporarily taken out of the game. However, they are brought back into the game when their team scores a point through a tag or a tackle.

Kabaddi is also a popular sport in countries like the Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and countries in South-east Asia.

13. Kho Kho

Associated Tournament: Olympics, South Asian Games

Kho Kho is a widely played outdoor sport in India as well as in different parts of South Asia.

The game of Kho Kho is played on a rectangular court between two teams, a chasing team and a defending team, comprising of twelve members in each team. The court has a central lane connecting two poles which are at either end of the court. The team that scores the most points by the end of the game wins.

In this game, nine players from the chasing team are on the court, with eight of them crouched in the central lane, while three runners from the defending team run around the court and try to avoid being touched or tagged, which loses points. Each sitting player on the chasing team faces the opposite direction of their adjacent teammates. Each team has two turns to score and two turns to defend, with each turn lasting nine minutes.

14. Shooting

Associated Tournament: Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, ISSF World Shooting Championships

Shooting is an important Olympic sport in India. The sport has a varied history in India. Initially they were played by royal people of British India for amusement and recreation.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) serves as the primary governing body for shooting sports in India. This association is responsible for organizing various tournaments throughout the year, including the prestigious National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC). In addition, they also host events like the All India G.V. Mavlankar Shooting Championship (AIGVMSC), Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi Memorial Masters Shooting Championship, Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship, and the All India Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Inter School Shooting Championship.

15. Squash

Associated Tournament: Olympic Games, Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, Squash World Open

Squash is a popular recreational indoor and outdoor sport in India, and is gaining popularity as a competitive sport. The sport is governed by the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI). It is believed that the sport of Squash was invented by the military forces during the World War I.

Squash is played by one or more persons on a court. However, there is no opponent player on the other side, instead, there are concrete walls enclosing the court in place of a net. The player or players hit the ball with their racquets (rackets) onto the wall. This allows the ball to bounce back to the player(s) and the ball is hit again and again to score points.

16. Swimming

Associated Tournament: Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games

Swimming is a popular aquatic sport in India and the rest of the world. It is also a recreational and an exercise sport that is enjoyed by the youth in the country.

The sport of swimming is competitive as individuals tread water in a pool to reach the finish line, the person reaching the finish line first wins. This type of sport may also involve recreational activities such as water polo (a throw ball game played between two teams in a pool), backstroke, relay, diving, high diving, freestyle etc.

Many individuals including children and adults from all parts of the globe participate in the sport of swimming at various national and international level Olympic games.

17. Table Tennis

Associated Tournament: World Championships, Asia Cup, Asian Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games

Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is an immensely popular indoor recreational sport in India. It has gained significant popularity in various states such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. The Table Tennis Federation of India serves as the official governing body for the sport in the country.

Table tennis is commonly known by names like ‘ping-pong’ and ‘whiff-whaff’. It is a racquet sport derived from tennis but distinguished by its playing surface being atop a stationary table, rather than the court on which players stand.

18. Tennis

Associated Tournament: Davis Cup, Fed Cup

Tennis is among the most popular sports in India. The game of tennis was introduced in India during the pre-independence colonial rule and soon it started gaining momentum.

The game of tennis is played between two players or in a pair as doubles. The players strike the ball with their racquets (rackets) allowing the ball to bounce over the net but not touching the net, or the player loses points.

Tennis is played in India and various parts of the world, like the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Czech Republic, Japan, France, Romania, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Greece. There are also separate tournaments organised for men and women, both in singles and doubles matches.

19. Weightlifting

Associated Tournament: Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games

Weightlifting is a competitive sport where athletes strive to lift a barbell, which is loaded with weight plates, from the ground to above their head. The main objective is to successfully lift the heaviest weights possible. In weightlifting, an athlete’s score is determined by the combined total of the maximum weight they can lift for each lift, measured in kilograms (kg). Athletes participate in different weight classes, which have evolved over time and vary between men’s and women’s competitions.

The Indian Weightlifting Federation in New Delhi is the governing body of weightlifting tournaments in the country. The Federation is affiliated to the Indian Olympic Association (Delhi) and is also a member of Asian Weightlifting Federation (Tehran, Iran) and International Weightlifting Federation (Budapest, Hungary).

20. Wrestling

Associated Tournament: Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championship

Wrestling is a popular sport in India. It is also considered as one of the oldest sports in the country. There are different forms of the wrestling sport that are practised in various regions of the Indian sub-continent, and they are known by different names as well. Each of these forms of wrestling have distinct styles and variations.

The sport of wrestling in India is usually played between two opponents on a mud-laden circular-shaped ground or court. The two participating wrestlers will continue to wrestle until the backside of one of the wrestlers touches the ground. The winner does a parade around the court with the losing opponent following him.

Conclusion

Recently, the Government of India with the association of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have taken an initiative to boost sports in the country.

This has been done by launching and frequently organising new national-level sports events such as Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), Khelo India Winter Games, and Khelo India University Games (KIUG) of the Khelo India games in various cities across the nation.