Sports

India's national sport is field hockey although cricket is the most popular sport in India. In some states, particularly those in the northeast and the states of West Bengal, Goa, and Kerala, football (soccer) is also a popular sport. In recent times, tennis has also gained popularity. Chess , commonly held to have originated in India, is also gaining popularity with the rise in the number of Indian grandmasters . Traditional sports include kabaddi , kho kho , and gilli-danda , which are played nationwide. India is home to the age-old disciplines of yoga and ayurveda and to the ancient martial arts , Kalarippayattu and Varma Kalai .