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List of Countries and their National Games in the World

Countries and their National Games

Countries and their National Games: A national game is a sport or physical activity that is considered an intrinsic part of a country’s cultural heritage and identity. It is often a sport that is played or followed by a significant portion of the population and is usually associated with that country’s history, values, and traditions.

National Games of Different Countries

National games can be seen as a way of uniting people across a nation, as they can provide a shared interest and passion that transcends social, economic, and cultural differences. It can also be a source of pride and accomplishment for a nation, as national teams and athletes compete on the world stage and represent their country on an international level.

While some national games are widely played and recognized around the world, others may be relatively unknown outside their country of origin. Examples of well-known national sports include football (soccer) in many countries, cricket in India, and baseball in Japan.

Read about: Tokyo Olympics 2021

List of Countries and their National Games

Here is an exhaustive List of Countries and their National Games. 

S. No Country National Game Description
1 Afghanistan Buzkashi A horse-mounted game where players compete to grab a goat carcass and bring it to a goal.
2 Antigua and Barbuda Cricket A bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
3 Argentina Pato A horse-mounted game where players try to score goals by putting a ball through a vertical hoop.
4 Australia Cricket A bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
5 Bangladesh Kabaddi Contact sport where two teams of seven players each try to tag and tackle each other while chanting “Kabaddi”.
6 Barbados Cricket The bat-and-ball game is where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
7 Bermuda Cricket A bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
8 Bhutan Archery A sport where archers shoot arrows at targets while dressed in traditional Bhutanese attire.
9 Brazil Capoeira A martial art that combines dance, acrobatics, and music.
10 Bulgaria Weightlifting Strength sport is where athletes lift heavy weights in two different styles: snatch and clean and jerk.
11 Canada Ice hockey Contact sport where two teams of six players each skate on ice and try to shoot a puck into the opponent’s goal.
12 Chile Chilean rodeo Rodeo sport where two riders on horseback try to stop a calf and pin it against a cushioned wall.
13 China Ping Pong Table tennis sport where two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth over a small net.
14 Cuba Baseball A bat-and-ball game where two teams of nine players each take turns to bat and field.
15 Columbia Tejo Target sport where players throw metal discs at a board rigged with explosives.
16 Czech Republic Ice Hockey Contact sport where two teams of six players each skate on ice and try to shoot a puck into the opponent’s goal.
17 Dominican Republic Baseball The bat-and-ball game is where two teams of nine players each take turns to bat and field.
18 England Cricket The bat-and-ball game is where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
19 France Football Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
20 Haiti Soccer Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
21 Hungary Water Polo Water sports where two teams of seven players each try to throw a ball into the opponent’s goal while treading water.
22 India Hockey (Not the official game, but a recognised sport in India) Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by hitting a ball into the opponent’s net with a curved stick.
23 Israel Football Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
24 Italy Football Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
25 Indonesia Badminton Racquet sport where two or four players hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a high net.
26 Lithuania Basketball Team sport where two teams of five players each try to shoot a ball into the opponent’s basket.
27 Iran Wrestling Combat sport where two wrestlers try to throw or pin each other to the ground.
28 Jamaica Cricket The bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
29 Japan Sumo Wrestling Combat sport is where two wrestlers try to push each other out of a circular ring or force each other to touch the ground with a body part.
30 Malaysia Sepak Takraw Team sport is where players kick a rattan ball over a high net using any part of their body except their hands and arms.
31 Mongolia Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse riding Combat sport where two wrestlers try to throw each other to the ground or force each other out of a circular ring; a sport where archers shoot arrows at a target from horseback; an equestrian sport where riders race each other on horseback.
32 Mauritius Football Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
33 Mexico Charreria The rodeo-style equestrian sport where participants demonstrate their skills in various events such as roping, bull riding, and steer wrestling.
34 Nepal Dandi Biyo Game where players use a small stick to hit a larger stick and send it flying into the air, then hit it again before it touches the ground.
35 New Zealand Rugby Contact sport where two teams of fifteen players each try to score points by carrying, passing, and kicking an oval-shaped ball into the opponent’s goal area.
36 Norway Cross-country skiing Winter sport where skiers race across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles.
37 Namibia Rugby Contact sport where two teams of fifteen players each try to score points by carrying, passing, and kicking an oval-shaped ball into the opponent’s goal area.
38 Pakistan Field Hockey Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by hitting a ball into the opponent’s net with a curved stick.
39 Philippines Arnis Martial art and sport where participants use sticks, knives, and empty hands to strike and defend against opponents.
40 Poland Football Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
41 Peru Paleta Frontón Racquet sport where players hit a ball against a wall using their hand or a paddle-like racket.
42 Puerto Rico Paso Fino Equestrian sport where riders show off the smooth, natural gait of the Paso Fino horse.
43 Russia Bandy Team sport where players use sticks to hit a ball into the opponent’s goal, played on ice with a ball instead of a puck.
44 Scotland Golf Sport where players use clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes on a course, using the fewest number of strokes possible.
45 Serbia Football, basketball, volleyball, and water polo Serbia’s most popular sports include football, basketball, volleyball, and water polo. Football is the most popular sport, with basketball being a close second.
46 Slovenia Alpine Skiing Alpine skiing is a popular sport in Slovenia due to the country’s mountainous terrain.
47 South Korea Tae-kwon-do Tae-kwon-do is a traditional Korean martial art that is widely practiced and enjoyed as a sport in South Korea.
48 Sri Lanka Volleyball Volleyball is a popular sport in Sri Lanka and is played both recreationally and competitively.
49 Switzerland Shooting and Gymnastics Switzerland has a strong tradition of shooting sports, and gymnastics is also a popular sport in the country.
50 Tajikistan Gushtigiri- type of wrestling Gushtigiri is a traditional form of wrestling in Tajikistan that is still practiced today.
51 Turkey Oil wrestling Oil wrestling is a traditional Turkish sport that has been practiced for centuries.
52 USA Baseball Baseball is a popular sport in the United States, with a long and storied history.
53 Uruguay Destrezas Criollas Destrezas Criollas is a traditional Uruguayan sport that involves horse riding and other rural skills.
54 Venezuela Baseball Baseball is a popular sport in Venezuela, and the country has produced many successful professional players.

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Countries and their National Games FAQs

What is the national sport of each country?

It is not possible to provide the national sport of each country as not all countries have an officially declared national sport. However, some countries do have popular sports that are considered to be their de facto national sport.

Which country has 2 national games?

Serbia has four national games: football, basketball, volleyball, and water polo.

Which country football national game?

There are many countries where football is considered to be the national game, including Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain, and many others.

Which country has national game cricket?

Cricket is the national game of several countries, including England, Bermuda, and Bermuda.

Which is national sport of China?

The national sport of China is table tennis, also known as ping pong.

What is Japanese national sport?

The national sport of Japan is sumo wrestling.

About the Author

I, Sakshi Gupta, am a content writer to empower students aiming for UPSC, PSC, and other competitive exams. My objective is to provide clear, concise, and informative content that caters to your exam preparation needs. I strive to make my content not only informative but also engaging, keeping you motivated throughout your journey!