Cricket, the great popular sport
For the bad European tongues, it would be so boring that the British would never have succeeded in exporting it elsewhere than in their colonies! India played its first official match against England in 1932. After its second victory in the World Cup (in 2011), created in 1975, it occupies the second place in number of victories behind Australia (5). The next edition of the World Cup is scheduled to be held in India in 2023.
In the country, cricket arouses even more enthusiasm than soccer in France, it is a real passion! In Delhi, for example, gardens and the smallest spaces between houses become playing fields. The fever rises as soon as a professional match is played at the Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium. There are endless queues to buy a ticket and the black market explodes. Finally, since the 1980s, the sport has also helped to ease relations between India and Pakistan, another highly regarded national team. Some political scientists even speak of "cricket diplomacy.
Field hockey, a national sport
Field field hockey originated in Asia and is believed to have been invented in Persia in 2000 B.C. It was introduced to India by the British. The first field hockey club was formed in Calcutta in 1885, followed by Bombay and Punjab. India played for the first time in the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928. National sport, field hockey brought to India a beautiful series of Olympic medals (including 8 gold medals). It was between 1928 and 1956 that the country broke all records by winning 6 consecutive gold medals, scoring 178 goals and conceding only 7. The last Field Hockey World Cup was held in Bhubaneswar in December 2018 and India was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Dutch. The next edition will be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in 2023.
A country of badminton
Badminton is the direct descendant of poona, an Indian racket game played by officers of the British Empire in the 1860s. It is played indoors on a court, 13.40 m long and 5.18 m wide, with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock. Although the competitions are largely dominated by neighbouring China, this Olympic sport has brought three medals, one in silver and two in bronze, to the Indian delegation. India will host the 30th edition of the World Championships in 2026.
Kabaddi, an ancient sport
It is a popular team sport in India, but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia, Japan and Iran. Over 4,000 years old, kabaddi is a popular team sport in rural India. It is becoming increasingly popular in Delhi! In the parks, during family picnics, you will see games being quickly organized. Its name is often chanted during the games. It comes from a Hindi word meaning "to hold one's breath", an important action in this sport itself. It is a kind of "dodgeball" between two teams of seven men who compete on a field. One team sends a fighter into enemy territory who must hit his opponent by continuously repeating the word kabaddi without taking a breath. Once the opponent is hit, the hunter tries to return to his camp without taking a breath, while the opposing team tries to stop him by restraining him until he loses his breath. If the hunter fails, he is eliminated. If he returns victorious, the opponent who was hit leaves the field. In the next round, the roles are reversed.
Discovering yoga
The country is steeped in two different philosophies, each of which encompasses a wide variety of practices. There are stika philosophies that recognize the authority of the Vedas, such as Hinduism, and those that reject them. The goal of yoga teaching is to achieve liberation from the conditioning that causes suffering. The practitioner of yoga is called a yogi. There are two distinct practices of yoga, Hatha Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.
Hatha Yoga consists of the practice of specific exercises, the purpose of which is to strengthen the mastery of the body and mind until the liberation of a higher consciousness. The yogi reaches liberation and becomes aware of his true nature. The yoga we know in the West is a derivative form, often stripped of its spiritual substance.
Bhakti Yoga consists of the adoration and devotional worship of a personal god. Bhakti (literally devotion) is part of most religious traditions. Its founder, Basava, rejected the supremacy of Brahmins and the caste system. The practice of Bhakti is immediately accessible to all. If it does not eliminate the worst part of the caste system, at least it offers people a temporary respite.
Many activities
Horseback riding and polo. In Rahjasthan, the horse, once the locals' means of transportation, is used for special occasions such as weddings and, of course, for polo, horseback riding, horse racing... In Delhi, there are many horse riding clubs and the Indian metropolis has become the national leader in the elite sport of polo
Golf. There are many greens in Delhi. The Delhi Golf Club, with its 27 holes (18 + 9) among venerable trees and monuments, is one of the most renowned. It hosts more Professional Golfers' Association tournaments than any other course in India
Camel Safari. The camel (one-humped) and the camel (two-humped) are still widely used in Rajasthan. You will regularly come across them on the small roads of the state pulling heavy carts loaded with stones or fodder. The camel also participates in the tourist promotion of the region and many safaris are conducted in the Thar desert. From a few hours at the famous Sam Dune in Jaisalmer to a multi-day trip around the golden city, Jodhpur or Bikaner, the opportunities to ride in the desert are numerous. It is imperative to try a two-day experience with a night under the stars on a sand dune. You will have a sore crotch when you return, but the pictures and memories will be unforgettable.
