History of Indoor Sports

Games such as Chess, Snakes and Ladders, Playing Cards, Polo, the martial arts of Judo and Karate had originated in India and it was from here that these games were transmitted to foreign countries, where they were further developed.

Several games now familiar across the world owe their origins in India, particularly, the games of chess, ludo (including ladders and snake), and playing cards. The famous epic Mahabharata narrates an incidence where a game called Chaturang was played between two groups of warring cousins.

The game of cards also developed in ancient India. Abul Fazal was a scholar in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar. In his book, Ain-e-Akbari, which is a mirror of life of that time, records game of cards is of Indian origins. Martial arts by the name of Kalaripayattu were a native of Kerala, a state of India. Kalaripayattu consists of a series of intricate movements that train the body and mind.

List of Indoor Games

• Chess
• Pachisi (Shatranj)
• Snake and Ladder
• Kho Kho
• Card games
• Kabaddi
• Material Arts
• Polo

List of Indoor Stadiums

Origin and Evolution of National Games

• The origin of National Games goes way back to 1924, when India was still under British Empire rule and India was undivided i.e Pakistan was still with us. So the first National games were organized in Lahore which was in undivided Punjab at that time and was very much part of India.
• National games were started taking inspiration from Olympics, which is mega sporting event where different nations participate to bring name and fame to their country. At that time National games were known as Indian Olympic Games and the founder of Indian Olympic Games aka National games was G.D. Sondhi, the first Secretary of the Punjab Olympic Association. Also Lt.Col H.L.O. Garrett, who was vice principal of Government College, Lahore, was the esteemed President of the founder body.
• These two persons played a great role in bringing the dream of an Indian Olympic event from paper to the ground.

National games before 1940 or Indian Olympic Games

• At the time when National games were started in 924 they were known as Indian Olympic Games and it was planned that it will be held every two years, i.e. it will be a biannual event.
• So during those early days national games were held under the British empire under the name Indian Olympic Games. But this name was changed to National Games in 1940 when they were held in Bombay for that first time. Bombay of that time is currently known as Mumbai. So we can say that a lot of names have been changed since the inception of National games.
• It continued to be held under British Empire till 1946 before Independence. So a total of 12 national games were held under British Empire.
• After India got independence in 1947, 13th national games in 1948 were the first National Games to be held in independent India. Indeed that was a great moment.

Current Format of National Games, New Format of National Games

• The Current Format of National Games started in 1985 when they were held in New Delhi. Before that National games were not organized on that large scale. But it was decided, that it’s high time that we should also have a National sporting event that can match magnamity of Olympics on the national scale. So the National Games were completely revamped in 1985.
• Though the planned schedule was that the national games will be held every two years except those years when Olympic Games and Asian Games are scheduled to be held but there have been instances in past where National games could not be held due to different reasons.
• For example, when 27th national games were held in Kerala in 1987 there was a gap of 7 years when they were again in Bombay-Pune in 1994. Then it had a smooth running of schedule of some years, but there was also a gap of 5 years between Hyderabad and Guwahati national games when national game were held in 2002 in Hyderabad and then in 2007 in Guwahati.
• Though the 34th national games were scheduled to be held in Ranchi in 2007 but it missed the bus. But it was eventually held from 12-26 February 2011 in Jharkhand. The 35th National Games were held in Kerala in the year 2015.

• Aquatics
• Archery
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Beach Handball
• Beach Volleyball
• Boxing
• Canoeing & Kayaking
• Cycling
• Fencing
• Football
• Gymnastics
• Handball
• Hockey
• Judo
• Kabaddi
• Kho Kho
• Lawn Bowls
• Netball
• Rowing
• Rugby
• Shooting
• Squash
• Table Tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Triathlon
• Volleyball
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling
• Wushu

About Olympics Games

According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia. They continued for nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius decreed in 393 A.D. that all such "pagan cults" be banned.

Olympia

Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games, is in the western part of the Peloponnese which, according to Greek mythology, is the island of "Pelops", the founder of the Olympic Games. Imposing temples, votive buildings, elaborate shrines and ancient sporting facilities were combined in a site of unique natural and mystical beauty. Olympia functioned as a meeting place for worship and other religious and political practices as early as the 10th century B.C. The central part of Olympia was dominated by the majestic temple of Zeus, with the temple of Hera parallel to it.

The Games and religion

The Olympic Games were closely linked to the religious festivals of the cult of Zeus, but were not an integral part of a rite. Indeed, they had a secular character and aimed to show the physical qualities and evolution of the performances accomplished by young people, as well as encouraging good relations between the cities of Greece. According to specialists, the Olympic Games owed their purity and importance to religion.

What does sports council do?

The Council will be an advisory body for the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and will advise the Ministry on matters relating to the promotion and development of sports and games in the country including popularising sports amongst the youth as a way of life; increasing outreach of sports to rural and tribal areas, areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), North East and Jammu & Kashmir.