We all taught that the peacock is our national bird, Jana Gana Mana the national anthem and hockey the national game. Contrary to the popular belief, recent RTI excludes Hockey from this list. India doesn’t have any official national game. But our neighbors and far away cousins like Bhutan, Pakistan and Australia and many others have their own national game to their credits. Here we are discussing the countries and national games.
List of the Countries and National Games
| SL NO | Country | National Game |
| 1 | Afghanistan | Buzkashi |
| 2 | Anguilla | Yacht Racing |
| 3 | Argentina | Pato |
| 4 | Australia | Cricket |
| 5 | Bangladesh | Kabaddi |
| 6 | Bhutan | Archery |
| 7 | Brazil | Capoeira |
| 8 | Canada | Ice Hockey |
| 9 | China | Table Tennis |
| 10 | Cuba | Baseball |
| 11 | Finland | Pesapallo |
| 12 | Korea Republic | Tae Kwon Do |
| SL NO | Country | National Game |
| 13 | Mexico | Charreria |
| 14 | Norway | Cross Country Skiing |
| 15 | Sri Lanka | Volleyball |
| 16 | Japan | Sumo Wrestling |
| 17 | United Kingdom | Cricket |
| 18 | United States of America | Baseball |
| 19 | Nepal | Volleyball |
| 20 | Pakistan | Field Hockey |
| 21 | France | Football |
| 22 | Israel | Football |
| 23 | Indonesia | Badminton |
| 24 | Iran | Wrestling |
| SL NO | Country | National Game |
| 25 | Malaysia | Sepak Takraw |
| 26 | Mongolia | Mongolian wrestling, Archery and Horse riding |
| 27 | New Zealand | Rugby |
| 28 | Philippines | Arnis |
| 29 | Poland | Football |
| 30 | Russia | Bandy |
| 31 | Scotland | Golf |
| 32 | Slovenia | Skiing |
| 33 | Switzerland | Shooting and Gymnastics |
| 34 | Turkey | Oil wrestling |
| 35 | Serbia | Football, basketball, Volleyball and Water polo |
Interesting facts about different National Sports
- Buzkashi, the national game of Afghanistan is known to be a highly aggressive sport. It requires players to mount on horses and place a calf or goat carcass in a specific goal drawn on the field. is also known as Kopar, Kupari and Ulak Tartysh.
- Pato the national game of Argentina combines elements of Basketball and polo.
- Capoeira the national game of Brazil is a form of martial arts that combines various elements of acrobatics, dance, and music.
- Canada has two national games, Ice hockey for the winter months and Lacrosse is the national game for the summer months.
- The national game of Finland, Pesapallo is a very moving bat and ball game.
- Tae Kwon Do a form of Korean martial art is the national game of South Korea.
- Charreria the game of Mexico is a competitive sport similar to rodeo except that performing cowboys, called charros, are judged on style and execution.
- Arnis the national martial art of the Philippines is also known as Eskrima and Kali. It actually emphasizes weapon-based fighting which is done using knives, bladed weapons, sticks, and various others.
- Bandy is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team’s goal.
- Sepak takraw or Kick Volleyball differs from the footvolley in its use of a rattan ball and only allowing players to use their feet, knee, chest, and head to touch the ball. Sepak takraw is the national game of Malaysia.
- A recent RTI revealed that India has no national game. However, still, the GOI website shows Field Hockey as the national game of India. The Sports Ministry confirmed that it had not declared any sport or game as the ‘national game.’
Entri wishes you all the best for your upcoming examinations. Start your Preparation today itself. Entri will help you with thousands of questions. Attempt mock tests, analyze yourselves to improve your success rate.
