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SSC CGL - Detailed Guide 2025

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National Sports in India

Reference: Lucent GK, NCERT Class 6–12

1. Hockey – National Game of India (Unofficial)

  • Often referred to as India's national game (not officially declared)
  • India won 8 Olympic Gold medals in hockey
  • Legendary Player: Major Dhyan Chand
    • Known as "The Wizard of Hockey"
    • National Sports Day (29 August) marks his birthday
Illustration of Early Vedic Period

Major Tournaments:

Tournament Detail
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Held in Malaysia, prestigious invitational tournament
FIH Pro League Annual global league by FIH
Hockey World Cup India won in 1975

Recent Highlights:

  • India won Bronze in Tokyo 2020 Olympics (Men's).
  • Odisha hosted 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup (Bhubaneswar & Rourkela).

2. Cricket in India

Governing Body:

  • BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India)
    • Richest cricket board in the world
    • Organizes IPL, Ranji Trophy, etc.
Illustration of Early Vedic Period

Indian Premier League (IPL):

Detail Description
Started 2008
Format T20 Franchise League
Purple Cap Most wickets
Orange Cap Most runs
Recent Winner Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Record-Holding Players:

Sachin Tendulkar

100 international centuries

Virat Kohli

Highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals

Rohit Sharma

Most T20I centuries, double centuries in ODIs.

ICC Titles Won by India:

Tournament Year(s) Won
ICC ODI World Cup 1983, 2011
ICC T20 World Cup 2007
ICC Champions Trophy 2002 (Joint), 2013
ICC Under-19 World Cup 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022

3. Badminton

Top Indian Players:

Player Achievements
P.V. Sindhu Olympic Silver (2016), Bronze (2020)
Lakshya Sen Commonwealth Games medalist, top BWF ranking

Key Achievement: India won Thomas Cup (Men's team tournament) for the first time in 2022

4. Wrestling & Boxing

Wrestlers:

  • Bajrang Punia – Olympic Bronze (2020), World Championship medalist
  • Vinesh Phogat – First Indian woman wrestler to win Asian Games gold

Boxers:

Boxer Achievement
Mary Kom 6-time World Champion, Olympic Bronze (2012)
Nikhat Zareen World Champion (2022)

5. Kabaddi

Leagues and Events:

  • Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)
    • Launched in 2014, franchise-based league
    • Most successful teams: Patna Pirates, Jaipur Pink Panthers

Indian Team Achievements: Multiple-time winners of Kabaddi World Cup. Asian Games Gold (Men & Women).

6. Other Popular Sports

Chess:

  • Viswanathan Anand – 5-time World Champion, India's first Grandmaster (1988)
  • R Praggnanandhaa – Young prodigy, World Cup finalist

Athletics:

  • Neeraj Chopra – Olympic Gold (Tokyo 2020 – Javelin)
  • Anju Bobby George – First Indian to win medal at World Athletics (2003)

QUICK FACTS TABLE

Sport Iconic Player Notable Tournament/ Event
Hockey Dhyan Chand Sultan Azlan Shah, Olympics
Chess Anand, Praggnanandhaa Chess Olympiad, World Cup

SSC CGL Tip-Offs:

  • Know India's firsts and record-holders (Olympic, Chess, Cricket)
  • Match-the-following format is often used for players vs sport
  • Pro Kabaddi and IPL team names/captains occasionally appear in Tier I
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