In the Indian Subcontinent, a weapon based Punjabimartial art sport is very popular which is typically associated with the Sikh community. This is known as “Gatka” which is also practiced in some parts of Pakistani Punjab. The weapons are obviously not guns or swords but the wooden sticks that were traditionally being used for sparring. Gatka is mainly a part of many Sikh festivals as combat sport and it has rarely been used in original fights.
Gatka: The Indian Martial Art ( Image: Sanzen )
The participants harmonize their body parts like feet and hands with the sticks that are used as the weapons so this makes the every movement of Gatka very rhythmic. Gatka becomes a ritual exercise when the players also chant the holy verses during their practice. The other skills of Gutka apart from the defensive techniques include the mind alertness and responsiveness in attitude.
The Gatka performer must be fully conversant with the spiritual, physical and mind techniques that are primary requisites of this combat sport of Punjab. Gatka, the Punjabi Martial Art is the phenomenal feature of the Sikh heritage and the Sikh community has also used it in many battles as well.
National Sport of any country represents it’s cultural and traditional diversity. Normally the national sport of any country keeps immense popularity among the nation of that particular country or state. However, this is not a set rule that such sport can be equally popular in other parts of the world. If we say, that the traditional sport or the national sport is an integral part of the heritage of a country, this might not be wrong.
The need of the day is to provide the special attention and facilitation by the authorities to ensure the continuity of such games. Like other corporate sports, the national sports or the traditional sports of the lovely planet also require, proper funding, appropriate media coverage, technical support, economic sponsorship and other adequate facilities. So the traditional sport or national sport is so important because that reflects the cultural heritage and the religious practices of a local community.
The officially declared national sports of the lovely planet are as under;
1- Alpine Skiing: The National Sport of Slovenia
Alpine Skiing: The National Sport of Slovenia ( Image: Super-G )
Alpine Skiing is so famous in Slovenia and there are several fully maintained ski centers stretched out across the corner of the Alps that extends into Slovenia. Alpine Skiing is the national sport of Slovenia and it is full of colors, enjoyment, courage and winter amusement.
2- Archery: The national sport of Bhutan
Archery: The national sport of Bhutan ( Image: Watana )
The Bhutanese are crazy for their national sport which is called as Archery (Datse). In Bhutan, there is an archery range even in the remotest villages. Traditional Bhutanese archery is a social event full of plenty of food and drink and the traditional singing and dancing.
3- Arnis: The national sport of Philippines
Arnis: The national sport of Philippines ( Image: Chewy Chua )
Arnis is also called as Kali and Eskrima which is an indigenous form of Martial Art. This is the national sport of Philippines and it comprises of Panandata (weaponry), Kuntao(empty hands), Dumog (grappling and locking), Sikaran (kicking) and Hilot (healing).
4- Bandy: The National Sport of Russia
Bandy: The National Bird of the Russian Federation
Bandy is the national sport of Russia which is played on ice with the players skating and a stick is used to hit a ball and to get it in the goal. Unlike Ice Hockey, the playing field is the size of a Football (Soccer) field and is played with eleven players in each team. Many rules, like offside, are the same as, or very similar those in Soccer. Hence, Bandy is sometimes referred to as “the winter soccer“.
5- Baseball: The National Sport of the United States of America, Cuba & the Dominican Republic
Baseball: The National Sport of the US,Cuba & Dominican Republic ( Image: Arvind Kumar)
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond. Baseball has had a broad impact on popular culture, both in the United States and elsewhere. Baseball is the national sport of the US, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
6- Bokator: The national sport of Cambodia
Bokator: The national sport of Cambodia ( By: Mandarin Media )
Bokator is considered as the oldest existing fighting system in Cambodia which is now declared the national sport of Cambodia. Unlike kickboxing, which is a combat sport, Bokator was designed to
be used on the battlefield. It uses a diverse array of elbow and knee strikes, shin kicks, submissions and ground fighting.
7- Buzkashi: The National Sport of Afghanistan
Buzkashi: The National Sport of Afghanistan ( Image: Fabien Dany )
Buzkashi is the favorite sport of the gallant horse riders of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan. This is the national sport of Afghanistan in which the players undergo tremendous practice and exercise to play this valiant game. Like Polo, Buzkashi is also played on horseback and it is thought that Buzkashi was played for the first time in the Oxus basin.
8- Capoeira: The National Sport of Brazil
Capoeira: The National Sport of Brazil ( Image from Visit Brasil )
Capoeira is an art form that is a combination of martial arts movements, dance, gymnastics, music, and strategy. It was originated in Brazil roughly 400 years ago. It is considered as the national sport of Brazil. Capoeira is “played” between 2 people at a time. The two players exchange offensive and defensive movements, sometimes without physical contact, but not always.
9- Charreada (Paso de la muerte): The National Sport of Mexico
Charreada (Paso de la muerte): The National Sport of Mexico ( Image: Beto Guadalajara)
The charreada or charrería, which is the national sport of Mexico is a competitive event similar to rodeo and was developed from animal husbandry practices used on the haciendas of old Mexico. The sport has been described as “living history,” or as an art form drawn from the demands of working life. The charreada itself consists of nine scoring events staged in a particular order for men.
10- Chilean Rodeo: The National Sport of Chile
Chilean Rodeo: The National Sport of Chile ( Image: Chris Martino)
Rodeo is the national sport of Chile which is actually a paired team event whereby the members of the team have to take turns between driving and pinning positions. The objective of the sport is to show control in driving a steer to a given section on the half-moon arena (called “medialuna” in Spanish) wall where some part of the side of the bovine’s anatomy is pushed by the chest of the pinning horse until the steer is pinned to a standstill on the padded cushion that defines the Pinning Zone.
11- Cirit: The National Sport of Turkey
Cirit: The National Sport of Turkey ( Image by Mxpeyne )
Cirit, or “çavgan,” is a traditional game which has been played by Turks for many centuries. Today in Turkey , the game is still played on the second Sunday in September in SöÄ?üt at theErtuÄ?rul Gazi (veterans’) ceremonies and in Erzurum , Kars and Bayburt to mark various other occasions. Consisting of two teams, Cirit is also deemed as the national sport of Turkey.
12- Cricket: The National Sport of Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada and Jamaica
Cricket: The National Sport of Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada and Jamaica (Image: Brett Matthews)
For the people of Caribbean states, Cricket is a mania. Cricket was introduced by the British to the West Indies at the beginning of the 19th century. According to historians, it was a sport for the elite, an institution of ‘high culture for the civilized’. Throughout the Caribbean, club cricket was established to ensure British cultural dominance and social respectability. Today this game is considered as the national sport of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Guyana, Grenada and Jamaica.
13- Cross Country Skiing: The national sport of Norway
Cross Country Skiing: The national sport of Norway ( Image: Christian Haugen )
Cross-country skiing (or XC skiing) is a form of ski touring in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles which is popular in many places with large snowfields. This is very popular in Norway and some skiers stay out for extended periods using tents and equipment similar to bushwalkers/hikers, whereas others take relatively short trips from ski resorts on maintained trails.
14- Destrezas Criollas: The national sport of Uruguay
Destrezas Criollas: The national sport of Uruguay ( Image: Ashabahia )
Destrezas Criollas is the traditional form of sport which is associated with the residents of the South America who are known as Pampas. Wearing the typical traditional attire, this sport was a favorite among the gauchos, who were capable of traveling many miles on horseback.
15- Gaelic Games: The National Sport of Ireland
Gaelic Games: The National Sport of Ireland ( Photo: Popeyee )
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and Hurling. Other games organized by the Association include Gaelic handball and rounder. Today, Gaelic games are the most popular games in Ireland in terms of supporter attendances at senior games.
16- Field Hockey: The National Sport of India & Pakistan
Field Hockey: The National Sport of India & Pakistan
Hockey is the national sport of Pakistan and India, which is more clearly recognizable in the West as field hockey or ground hockey. Hockey, in general, is a game with a team of 16 players. Eleven are active on the field, while the remaining five are substitutes. Eleven players of a team comprise of one goal-keeper, five defenders and five attackers. Hockey has many tournaments played at the international level for both Men and Women, which include the Olympics, Quadrennial World Cup, Champions Trophy and the World Cup.
17- Ice Hockey: The National Sport of Canada for winter
Ice Hockey: The National Sport of Canada for winter ( Image: Jeffery Simpson )
Ice hockey is the national sport for winter in Canada and which is also an Olympic sport and the most popular team sport played on ice. Ice hockey is played with two opposing teams wearing ice skates. Unless there is a penalty, each team only has six players on the ice rink at a time. The aim of the game is to knock the hockey puck into the opposing team’s net. The net is guarded by a special player called the goalie.
18- Pato or Juego del pato: The national sport of Argentina
Pato which is also known as juego del pato is the national sport of Argentina (Image: Toledo )
”Pato” has been regarded as Argentina´s national sport since 1953 and it has been played in this country since the seventeenth century. In modern pato, two four-member teams riding on horses fight for possession of a ball which has six conveniently-sized handles, and score by throwing the ball through a vertically positioned ring (as opposed to the horizontal rim used in basketball).
19- Kabaddi: The National Sport of Bangladesh
Kabaddi: The National Sport of Bangladesh
Kabaddi is the national sport of Bangladesh. Kabaddi is a game with two teams consisting of twelve players each. In order to play Kabaddi, a large playing area measuring 12.50 meters by 10 meters is required. Each team has a half of this area, which is separated by a white line, and it is here that they compete against one another for the highest score.
20- Lacrosse: The National Summer Sport of Canada
Lacrosse: The National Summer Sport of Canada (Photo: Skyler Jokiel )
Lacrosse, the national summer sport of Canada is a full contact sport played using a stick with a net on the end, called a crosse, which consists of usually a separate metal or wooden shaft, connected to the “head” of the crosse. The object of the game is to toss a rubber ball into the goal. Lacrosse can be played outdoors or indoors. Outdoors it is played on a field of grass or artificial turf. Indoors it can be played on turf. Indoor or box lacrosse is played on covered or melted ice hockey rinks.
21- Muay Thai: The National Sport of Thailand
Muay Thai: The National Sport of Thailand ( Image: Sam Lu )
Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is the national sport and cultural martial art of Thailand. It was developed several hundreds of years ago as a form of close-combat that utilizes the entire body as a weapon.
22- Paleta Frontón : The National Sport of Peru
Paleta Frontón: The National Sport of Peru_(Image: FIPV )
Paleta Frontón is a Peruvian sport that was born in the capital Lima in 1945. This sport has its roots in the “Pelota Vasca” brought by the Spanish Conquerors and the domestic “Pelota Mano” wrongly called at that time “Handball” because of the English influence.
23- Paso fino Game: The National Sport of Puerto Rico
Paso fino Game: The National Sport of Puerto Rico ( Image: Maureen Kovacs )
Paso Fino performance in Puerto Rico is specially associated with Paso Fino horses. These horses are versatile and can be used in many disciplines. They are often seen competing in Western classes such as trail, barrels, reining, versatility and cow penning, and are also commonly used for trail riding and endurance competitions, driving and gymkhana.
24- Pesäpallo: The National Sport of Finland
Pesäpallo: The National Sport of Finland
Pesäpallo , also referred to as “Finnish baseball” is a fast-moving ball sport that is quite often referred to as the national sport of Finland and has some presence in other countries. The game is similar to brännboll, rounders, baseball and lapta. Pesäpallo is a combination of traditional ball-batting team games and North American baseball.
25- Rugby League: The National Sport of Papua New Guinea and Toga
Rugby League: The National Sport of Papua New Guinea and Toga *Image:Grant Stantiall
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. In rugby league points are scored by carrying or kicking the ball down the field, until it can be moved past the opponents’ designated goal line and touched to the ground; this is called a try, and is the primary method of scoring. The opposing team attempts to stop the attacking side gaining points by preventing their progress up the field by tackling the player carrying the ball.
26- Rugby-Union: The National Sport of New-Zealand, Madagascar and Wales
Rugby-Union: The National Sport of New-Zealand,Madagaskar and Wales (Image:The-Blues-Rugby)
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball with a maximum width and length of 30 centimeters (12 in) and 62 centimeters (24 in) respectively. It is played on a field up to 100 meters (330 ft) long and 70 meters (230 ft) wide with H-shaped goal posts on each goal line.
27- Sumo Wrestling: The National Sport of Japan
Sumo Wrestling: The National Sport of Japan ( Image: hitthatswitch )
Sumo wrestling of Japan is still preserved with its traditional style in Japan . It can be defined as a showdown between two wrestlers in which they try to throw each other out of Dohyo ( circular ring ) or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. Sumo wrestling is followed only in Japan.
28- Taekwondo: The National Sport of the South Korea
Taekwondo: The National Sport of the South Korea ( Image: Taekwondo Information )
Taekwondo is a young martial art with an ancient history. “Traditional taekwondo” typically refers to the martial art as it was established in the 1950s and 1960s in the South Korean military, and in various civilian organizations, including schools and universities.”Sport taekwondo” has developed in the decades since the 1950s. Taekwondo became an official Olympic sport in Sidney 2000 Olympic Games at 103th IOC Session in Paris.
29- Tejo: The National Sport of Colombia
Tejo: The National Sport of Colombia ( Image: Jairo Galindo )
Tejo consists in throwing a gold disk, called Zepguagoscua, and through the centuries it evolved into the modern version of the game. Tejo nowadays is played by throwing a metal plate or disc (Tejo) weighing about 2kg. The players aim the Tejo to strike the middle of a target. This target is a clay-filled box with a metal circle called a “Bocin”, around it are small triangle gunpowder pouches called “Mechas”. Whoever causes the most Mechas explode, Wins! In case no Mechas are exploded the winner is the person or team whose Tejo is closer to the Bocin.
30- Varzesh-e-Pahlavani: The National Sport of Iran
Varzesh-e-Pahlavani: The National Sport of Iran ( Image: Sebastia Giralt )
Varzesh-e Bastani which is Persian for “ancient sport”, also known as Varzesh-e Pahlavani, is a traditional style of folk wrestling practiced in Iran. Varzesh-e Bastani combines elements of the pre-Islamic Iranian culture with the spirituality of Sufism. It places emphasis on spiritual and moral purity, participants being expected to be truthful, and good tempered and only then strong in body.
31- Volley Ball: The National Sport of Sri Lanka
Volley ball: The National Sport of Sri Lanka ( Image: Dani Venn )
Volley Ball is the national sport of Sri Lanka. The game of volleyball was introduced to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1916 by Mr. R. W. Camack, then Director of Physical Education at the Colombo Y.M.C.A. The Beach Volley Ball is equally popular in Sri Lanka.
