SSC CGL - Detailed Guide 2025
Self-Paced Course

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

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.

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
Developed By Jan Mohammad
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