Indian Sports Knowledge Quiz
Indian Sports Knowledge Quiz
Test your knowledge of India's traditional sports. Answer all questions to see your score!
Which sport is uniquely Indian and has no direct foreign equivalent?
What was the primary reason Kho Kho wasn't included in the Olympics?
Which game is described as "the original version of cricket's batting technique"?
According to the article, when was modern Kabaddi standardized?
What is the main reason these traditional sports are still played today according to the article?
Results
When people think of sports invented in India, they often jump to Kabaddi - and for good reason. It’s fast, physical, and played across villages from Punjab to Tamil Nadu. But Kabaddi isn’t the only game born on Indian soil. In fact, one of the oldest and most uniquely Indian sports never made it to the Olympics - yet it’s still played by millions. That sport is Kho Kho.
Kho Kho: The Forgotten Indian Classic
Kho Kho, which translates to "to touch" in Hindi, was formalized in the 1920s in Maharashtra, but its roots go back over 2,000 years to ancient Indian wrestling and chase games played in royal courts and village squares. Unlike modern team sports that rely on equipment, Kho Kho needs nothing but a flat ground, chalk lines, and two teams of 12 players each (nine on the field at a time).
The rules are simple: one team sends out nine players to sit in a row, facing alternating directions. The other team sends out three chasers who must tag the seated players without turning around. The chasers can only change direction by tapping a teammate’s back - that’s the "kho" - a quick touch that transfers the chasing duty. The game lasts 9 minutes per half. It’s not just about speed. It’s about timing, coordination, and reading the opponent’s body language.
Today, Kho Kho is played in over 30,000 schools across India. The Kho Kho Federation of India, founded in 1959, organizes national championships. In 2022, the first professional Kho Kho league launched with teams from Mumbai, Chennai, and Bhopal. The league drew over 12 million viewers in its first season. That’s more than some international cricket matches.
Kabaddi: The National Sport That Wasn’t Always Official
Kabaddi is often mistaken as India’s only homegrown sport. But it’s not technically the first. Kabaddi’s origins are older - traceable to the Mahabharata, where the hero Bhima used a version of it to defeat enemies. It was played in rural India for centuries under different names: Chedugudu in Andhra, Kauddi in Bengal, and Hu-Tu-Tu in Maharashtra.
Modern Kabaddi was standardized in 1921 in Maharashtra. The first All India Kabaddi Federation formed in 1936. It became an official event at the Asian Games in 1951, and India has won every gold medal since then - except once. The Pro Kabaddi League, launched in 2014, turned it into a TV phenomenon. With franchises like Patna Pirates and Jaipur Pink Panthers, it now has a viewership larger than the IPL in some states.
But here’s the twist: Kabaddi isn’t unique to India. Similar games exist in Iran (Bouda), Bangladesh (Sadu Ghar), and even parts of Southeast Asia. Kho Kho? That one is unmistakably Indian. No other country has a version of it. Not even close.
Other Indian Inventions: Games That Time Forgot
India didn’t stop at Kho Kho and Kabaddi. There’s a whole ecosystem of traditional games that never made it to global stages - but still thrive in backyards and village fairs.
- Gilli Danda: A rural bat-and-ball game older than cricket. Players use a short stick (gilli) and a longer one (danda) to hit the gilli into the air and then strike it as far as possible. It’s the original version of cricket’s batting technique.
- Atya Patya: Played in Maharashtra and Karnataka, this is like a hybrid of Kho Kho and tag. Players move within a grid, and being tagged means you’re out. The twist? You can only move in straight lines - no turning.
- Langdi: A one-legged hop-and-chase game from Gujarat. The chaser hops on one foot while trying to tag others. It’s a test of balance and endurance - and it’s still taught in some rural schools as physical training.
These games aren’t just relics. They’re part of India’s physical education curriculum in 17 states. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) included them in school textbooks in 2020 to promote indigenous physical culture.
Why These Games Matter Today
Modern sports like football and basketball dominate global media. But in India, traditional games still connect people to community, history, and identity. Kho Kho doesn’t need expensive gear. It doesn’t require a stadium. It can be played on any dirt patch. That’s why it survives - not because of fame, but because it’s deeply practical.
Studies from the Indian Institute of Sport Science (2023) show that children who play Kho Kho and Atya Patya have 23% better spatial awareness and 18% faster reaction times than peers who only play structured sports. That’s not just nostalgia. It’s science.
And it’s not just kids. In villages across Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, elderly men still gather every evening to play Kho Kho. No coaches. No sponsors. Just tradition. They call it "khelna," not "playing." It’s a verb - something you do, not something you watch.
What About Other Claims?
You might hear that Chess came from India. And yes - Chaturanga, a 6th-century Indian board game, is widely considered the ancestor of modern chess. But Chaturanga wasn’t a physical sport. It was a strategy game. So while culturally significant, it doesn’t fit the category of "invented sport" as we mean it here - something that requires physical movement, rules, and direct competition.
Same with Polo. Though modern polo is linked to Manipur (where it was called Sagol Kangjei), the version played globally today was adapted by British soldiers in the 1800s. So Manipuri Polo is a cultural variant - not the origin of the international sport.
So when someone asks, "Which sport was invented in India?" - the clearest, most accurate answer is Kho Kho. It’s the only one that was created entirely within India, with no foreign influence, and still played the same way today.
Where to See Kho Kho Live
If you’re in India, don’t miss the National Kho Kho Championship held every December in Pune. Or visit any rural school in Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu during recess - you’ll likely find a match in progress. The players are barefoot. The ground is dusty. The cheers are loud. And it’s as real as sport gets.
There’s no trophy worth more than the moment a 12-year-old girl sprints across the field, taps her teammate’s shoulder, and tags the last opponent with seconds left. That’s India’s sport. Not just invented here. Still alive here.
Was Kabaddi invented in India?
Yes, Kabaddi was formalized in India in the early 20th century, with roots stretching back over 2,000 years. While similar games exist in neighboring countries, the modern version with standardized rules was developed in Maharashtra and became India’s national sport. It’s the most popular traditional sport in India today.
Is Kho Kho played outside India?
Kho Kho is almost exclusively played in India. A few diaspora communities in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the UK have informal leagues, but there’s no official international federation. Unlike Kabaddi, which has a global tournament, Kho Kho remains a uniquely Indian sport with no foreign adaptation.
Why isn’t Kho Kho in the Olympics?
Kho Kho hasn’t been recognized by the International Olympic Committee due to lack of global participation and standardized international governance. While it’s played in over 30,000 Indian schools, it hasn’t spread widely enough outside the country to meet Olympic criteria. Efforts are underway to create an international Kho Kho federation, but it’s still in early stages.
Are traditional Indian sports still taught in schools?
Yes. Since 2020, NCERT has included Kho Kho, Atya Patya, and Gilli Danda in the physical education curriculum for grades 6 to 10 in 17 Indian states. Many state governments now run annual school tournaments. The goal is to preserve indigenous physical culture and reduce dependence on imported sports like football and basketball.
What’s the difference between Kho Kho and Kabaddi?
Kabaddi is a contact sport where one player (the raider) enters the opponent’s half to tag defenders and return without being caught. Kho Kho is a chasing game where three players tag seated opponents while moving in a line and switching roles by touching teammates. Kabaddi is more aggressive and physical. Kho Kho is faster and more about timing and evasion.
