Sports have been a part of human life since the very beginning. They are not just a form of entertainment but also add greatly to one’s health. Our country alone is known for various sports which are beneficial to the physical as well as mental health of the body.
Sports is known to help the body in many ways which include keeping the heart strong, maintaining good blood pressure levels, releasing stress, developing stamina, increasing muscular strength and body flexibility, reduces cholesterol levels, improves blood circulation, etc.
Realising such innumerable health benefits of sports activities, India marks 29th August as its National Sports Day. This day is celebrated across the country. It also marks the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. His birth anniversary was thus marked as the national sports day. Major Dhyan Chand is regarded as the greatest hockey player India has ever produced.
On this day, the government, sports personalities and other sports enthusiasts spread awareness about the importance and benefits sports offers. Like every other year, this year too, the Indian government has taken a step to promote fitness. Our Prime Minister, who since forever has been stressing on the importance of body exercises and fitness has announced the Fit India Movement. Through this movement, he has appealed to every Indian to exercise, engage in some sports activity, and stay fit and healthy. This movement was launched at the Indira Stadium in New Delhi. While addressing the audience he mentioned that sports has been an integral part of our Indian culture by citing examples of Indian martial arts, dance form and sports. Sadly though, he said that Indians have turned their backs to sports.
Quite true, India, indeed is home to some of the most unique sports ever to be found in the entire world. Let us recall some of the most prominent Indian origin sports that India is recognised for.
Hockey
Widely recognised as the national game of India, Hockey is a team game played between two teams each consisting of 11 players. It is played used hockey sticks and a small hard ball. The players of the game drive the ball towards goals at opposite ends of a field using the sticks. Hockey is known to develop and strengthen the leg muscles, hips, and claves. It also boosts metabolism, develops hand-eye coordination, and develops the complete cardiovascular system of the body.
Kho Kho
A traditional form of sport, Kho Kho is also a team game with each team consisting of a total of 12 players. Every child’s childhood is incomplete without this game. Kho Kho is not just played by professional sportsmen but is played by anyone and everyone. Kho Kho is especially played in schools in the Physical Training period. The health benefits of this game are innumerable. Some of them include the development of stamina, fostering of mental and social development of children, and improvement of coordination and flexibility.
Kabaddi
Again, a team sport played between two teams each consisting of seven players. This sport is one of the oldest sports to exist in India. Kabaddi is majorly played in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. Playing Kabaddi helps in improving the body’s stamina, enhances the presence of mind, and develops agility.
Today being the National Sports Day, the whole of India will be celebrating it by playing different sports. Taking an opportunity of this day, you too must play some sport with your friends and revive those good old days of your childhood.
