Sports Originated in India

India has been the land of many globally renowned inventions like Yoga, Ayurveda, Zero, etc. The country’s inventions aren't just limited to arts, crafts, cuisines and science, and culture but sports too. You'll be astonished to experience many of the popular games which are prospering in different nations had their origins in India. One of the foremost ancient games that originated in India, chess was initially called ‘Ashtapada’. the sport then came to be called ‘Chaturanga’ during the rule of the Gupta Empire. Persians who travelled to ancient India had picked up the sport and named it ‘Shatranj’. Also, there's a sign of board games almost like Chess within the archaeological sites of Indus Valley civilization. Its popularity grew with the British too.

Even today, India leads the sport of Chess within the world, because of Viswanathan Anand a former World Chess Champion, and currently the planet Rapid Chess Champion. The latest variant of badminton was truly exhibited in India. British were the primary patrons of the fashionable version of the sport. By the 1870’s they not only mastered the sport but also carried the equipment back home. They were so impressed with the sport that it's claimed that the sport was introduced in Europe in 1873. Thereafter, many countries adopted the sport. Playing cards is that the commonest pastime in our country and that we often enjoy games like Rummy, Bluff, Bridge, etc. today. However, it's very interesting to understand that the cardboard games originated in India; they were introduced within the 16th century by the Mughal emperors and called the sport “Ganjifa”. the sport was played with lavish sets of cards made up of ivory or tortoise shells and decorated with various precious stones.

Avinash Sinha

Birla School, Pilani