Which is the national sport of India?

• Hockey is the national sport of India.
• The remarkable performance of the Indian hockey team in the Olympics prompted the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to declare it the National game of India.
• The Indian team had won 8 gold medals,1 silver,and 3 bronze medals between 1928 and 1956.
• Hockey was introduced to India by the British. It outshined many popular sports to become the national sport.The first Hockey Association in India was the Bengal Hockey Association.
• Hockey India, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is the governing body responsible for planning and implementing all activities related to men’s and women’s hockey in India. It is headquartered in New Delhi and affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association.
• Some of the famous hockey players of India were Dhyanchand, Norris, Pinninger, and Yusuf Gateley.
• The birthday of Dhyan Chand is celebrated as the National Sports Day on 29th August. The first National Sports Day was celebrated on 29 August 2012. The Government of India recently renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Further Reading:

• National Sports Day
• List of Sports Terms

Find more related IAS Questions in the linked article.

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