Hockey is not India's National Game

The government of India has chosen several elements as symbols that define the nation’s identity, legacy, and heritage. For instance, For instance, the tiger is the national animal, and the lotus is the national flower. All this is common knowledge and most Indians can easily relate to these.

Similarly, when asked about India’s national sport, the most probable answer will be hockey. The Indian hockey team is the most successful side in the history of the Olympics, having won eight gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. India has also produced some of the best field hockey players in the world, including the legendary Dhyan Chand, and Dhanraj Pillai. However, in contrast to common perception, hockey is not the national game of India.

According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the government has not declared any sport/game as the national game of the country, as its objective is to encourage and promote all popular sports disciplines