The most popular sport in India is cricket, although association football is the most popular sport in some Indian states. In India, cricket, association football and kabaddi have an audience base of 612 million, 305 million and 208 million people, respectively. This means approximately 42% of the Indian population follows cricket, 21% follows football and 14% follows kabaddi.
India has a history of sports dating back to the Vedic period, with Western sports having been imported during British rule. Cricket is currently the most popular spectator sport; it generates the highest television viewership, with the Indian Premier League being the most-followed sports league in the country. Football has also gained popularity, with the Indian Super League being the highest level of domestic football, and the national team winning multiple gold medals at the Asian and South Asian Games. Additional football accomplishments include India having reached the group stage of the 1960 Olympics, qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, and won the SAFF Championship. India has also had success in field hockey, winning the World Cup and multiple medals in the Olympic Games. Other popular sports include kabaddi, badminton, tennis, athletics and Kho Kho. Sports such as golf, rugby, wrestling, boxing, motorsport, and basketball are also featured throughout the country.
India's diverse culture and people have influenced the wide variety of sports, with indigenous sports such as fighter kite and boat racing being popular in some regions. Other indigenous sports include chess, Kho Kho, polo and snooker, subject to location. Water sports, like scuba diving, boating, surfing, and kiteboarding, frequently appear in coastal areas. Professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) are popular among young audiences, with some Indian wrestlers achieving international success. India has hosted the Cricket World Cup three times and won it twice. Field hockey is India's most successful sport at the Olympics, with the Indian men's team winning thirteen Olympic medals—eight of which were gold. Although it is not considered a professional sport, cycling is a recreational activity and exercise in India.






