Racquet Sports
Badminton
Badminton is a fast-paced sport where players use rackets to hit a shuttlecock over a net, aiming to score points by landing it in the opponent’s court. It’s played in singles or doubles, with games typically going to 21 points. The sport requires agility, quick reflexes, and strategic thinking. Major international tournaments, like the BWF World Championships and Olympic Games, feature top players such as Lin Dan and P.V. Sindhu. Badminton is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, offering both fun and competitive play.
Table Tennis
Table tennis, or ping pong, is a fast-paced indoor sport where players use paddles to hit a small ball back and forth over a net, aiming to score points by landing the ball on the opponent's side of the table. Played in singles or doubles, matches are usually played to 11 points. The sport requires quick reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. It is governed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and features major events like the World Championships and Olympics. Popular players include Ma Long and Tomokazu Harimoto.
Squash
Squash is a fast-paced, competitive sport played indoors with two players (singles) or four players (doubles) using rackets to hit a small rubber ball against a front wall. The objective is to strike the ball in such a way that the opponent cannot return it within the boundaries of the court. Squash demands agility, speed, and strategy, as players move quickly around the court, employing a variety of shots such as drives, drops, and volleys. Governed by the World Squash Federation (WSF), squash features individual tournaments and prestigious events like the PSA World Tour, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games. The sport is known for its intense rallies, requiring both mental and physical endurance. Legendary players such as Jahangir Khan, Nicole David, and Ramy Ashour have made their mark on the sport, inspiring players worldwide.
Tennis
Lawn Tennis is a dynamic racquet sport where players compete by hitting a ball over a net into the opponent’s court, aiming to outplay them through skilful shots and strategic placement. It can be played in singles or doubles formats, with matches scored in sets. The game demands speed, precision, stamina, and mental focus. Globally celebrated tournaments like Wimbledon, the US Open, and the French Open showcase legends such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal. Tennis is popular among all age groups, offering a blend of recreational enjoyment and high-level competition.
Pickleball
Pickleball is a dynamic paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net, aiming to score by landing it in the opponent’s court. It can be played in singles or doubles, with games typically going to 11 points. The game is known for its accessibility, quick rallies, and strategic shot placement. Competitive events like the USA Pickleball National Championships showcase top athletes such as Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters. Pickleball is rapidly growing in popularity among all age groups for both recreation and competition.
Padel
Padel is a fast-growing racket sport played in an enclosed court slightly smaller than a tennis court. Players use solid paddles to hit a pressurized ball over a net, scoring points by forcing errors or landing the ball where opponents can’t return it. Played mostly in doubles, matches are often played in best-of-three sets. Paddle emphasizes teamwork, reflexes, and clever use of walls. Major tournaments like the Premier Padel Tour highlight elite players such as Juan Lebrón and Alejandra Salazar. With its unique blend of intensity and accessibility, paddle is attracting fans worldwide.
Combat Sports
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art known for its emphasis on high, fast kicks, powerful strikes, and dynamic footwork. The sport combines physical techniques with mental discipline, focusing on respect, courtesy, and perseverance. Taekwondo competitions involve sparring, where opponents score points by landing controlled kicks and punches to designated areas of the body, typically using points-based systems. There are also forms (patterns) and breaking events in tournaments. The sport was developed in the 1940s and 1950s, drawing on traditional Korean martial arts and influences from other fighting styles. Taekwondo is practiced worldwide and became an official Olympic sport in 2000. Notable athletes like Steven Lopez and Lee Dae-hoon have gained international recognition for their achievements.
Judo
Judo is a martial art and Olympic sport that focuses on throws, joint locks, and grappling techniques. The objective is to throw the opponent onto the mat, pin them for an allotted time, or apply a submission hold such as a joint lock or choke. Judo emphasizes balance, leverage, and technique over strength, making it accessible to people of all sizes. It is practiced both as a sport and as a form of self-defense. Competitions are divided into weight classes, and matches are won through skillful throws or controlling the opponent. Judo was developed in Japan by Jigoro Kano in the late 19th century and is now practiced worldwide, with notable athletes such as Tadahiro Nomura and Kayla Harrison achieving success at the international level, including the Olympic Games.
Precision Sports
Archery
Archery is a precision sport where competitors use a bow to shoot arrows at a target, aiming to score points based on accuracy. Targets are marked with concentric circles, with the center, or bullseye, earning the highest points. Archery has various disciplines, including target archery, field archery, and 3D archery, with target archery being the most common in international competitions. It requires focus, steady hands, and a calm mind, as even slight adjustments can impact accuracy. Archery is governed by World Archery, and it is a popular Olympic sport, featuring individual, team, and mixed-team events. Athletes like South Korea’s An San and India’s Deepika Kumari are among the sport's most celebrated figures, inspiring archers worldwide.
Shooting
Shooting sports involve using precision, control, and focus to hit targets with firearms such as rifles, pistols, or shotguns. The sport includes various disciplines, such as pistol shooting, rifle shooting, and shotgun events like skeet and trap shooting. Competitors aim at fixed or moving targets, with scoring based on accuracy and consistency. Shooting sports are practiced recreationally and competitively, and they require a combination of mental concentration, steady hands, and proper technique. Governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), the sport features in major competitions like the Olympic Games, World Championships, and continental events. Notable athletes like Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual Olympic gold medal in shooting, have brought international attention to the sport.
Strength Sports
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a highly skilled sport that combines strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination through a variety of artistic and acrobatic movements. It features multiple disciplines, including artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline. In artistic gymnastics, athletes perform routines on apparatuses such as the vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor for women, and the parallel bars, pommel horse, rings, and horizontal bar for men. Rhythmic gymnastics focuses on graceful routines with equipment like ribbons, hoops, and balls, while trampoline involves performing aerial flips and twists. Gymnastics requires precision, creativity, and rigorous training, making it a showcase of athleticism and artistry. Governed by the International Gymnastics.
Weightlifting
Weightlifting is a strength-based Olympic sport where athletes lift heavy weights in two main disciplines: the snatch, a single continuous motion to lift the barbell overhead, and the clean and jerk, a two-part lift involving raising the barbell to the shoulders and then overhead. Athletes compete in specific weight categories, and their combined best lifts in both events determine their total score. Weightlifting requires immense strength, precision, technique, and flexibility. It has ancient roots but was formalized as a competitive sport in the late 19th century. Governed by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), the sport features major events like the Olympic Games
Mallakhamba
Mallakhamba is a traditional Indian sport that combines strength, flexibility, and balance as athletes perform acrobatic poses and manoeuvres on a vertical wooden pole or rope. The sport requires exceptional core control, agility, and coordination, with routines judged on difficulty and execution. Mallakhamba showcases a unique blend of gymnastics and wrestling elements and is practiced both as a competitive sport and a form of physical training. It is celebrated in festivals and competitions across India, preserving a rich cultural heritage. Mallakhamba attracts practitioners of all ages, promoting fitness and discipline.
Athletics
Track and Field
Track and field is a diverse sport featuring various athletic events that test speed, strength, and endurance. Competitors participate in running races, jumping, and throwing disciplines, aiming to achieve the best performance in each event. Events range from short sprints to long-distance runs, as well as hurdles, relays, high jump, long jump, shot put, and javelin. Track and field demand a combination of explosive power, technique, and stamina. It is a centrepiece of major competitions like the Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships, showcasing legendary athletes such as Usain Bolt and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The sport appeals to athletes of all ages and skill levels worldwide.
Team Sports
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a high-energy team sport that blends tag and wrestling, where players take turns raiding the opponent’s half to tag defenders and score points. The raider must hold their breath and chant “kabaddi” while trying to avoid being tackled. Played in two teams of seven, matches are divided into two halves, each lasting 20 minutes. The sport requires agility, strength, and strategic teamwork. Kabaddi has a strong following in South Asia and features prominently in events like the Pro Kabaddi League and Asian Games. It’s enjoyed by players and fans worldwide for its fast pace and physical intensity.