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Curadio
26 Mar 25 5 min read
No one needs a formal introduction to sports. After all, we all have attended the school sports day - either as a cheering spectator or an enthusiastic participant!
In simpler words, sports is an activity or a game that involves physical effort and skills. Each sport comes with a set of rules and regulations and usually has multiple players.
World Sports Encyclopaedia lists approximately 8,000 indigenous sports worldwide. Some of the most popular sports are cricket, football, badminton, hockey, golf, and baseball.
My childhood days were an equal mix of studies and sports. My classmates and I played dodgeball in school, while cricket was the chosen game in my colony.
But what I loved most was playing badminton with my siblings. We would line up our sandals as a makeshift net and argue over our self-made rules.
The way we played these games was absolutely amateurish. But that burst of energy and good mood we’d get after playing was something I couldn’t get anywhere else.
The terms ‘sports’ and ‘games’ are often used interchangeably.
Sports are physical activities aided by a set of rules where individuals or teams compete against each other. Playing sports requires discipline, endurance, and certain physical skills that you must develop over time.
Most professional sports are overseen by organizations that manage and govern all related activities. For instance, FIFA acts as the international governing body for football, beach soccer, and futsal.
Games, either physical or mental, are structured activities such as Uno or chess. They are often designed for recreation and enjoyment.
In addition to physical skills, games also involve strategic thinking, teamwork, skill development or even a combination of luck and mental agility to come out a winner.
While many games have flexible rules—such as classic games like jump rope and hopscotch, which vary by region—others, like Mao, Uno, and Go Fish, follow a fixed set of rules.
Playing games such as cricket and badminton in my childhood kept us physically fit and healthy. Engaging in board or indoor games during the scorching summer afternoons or rainy days gave us a chance to spend time with our family and friends.
No matter which game or sport we play, whether professionally or just for fun, the lessons we learn are invaluable.
I’ve always loved playing outdoors with my friends; it challenges me, thrills me, and teaches me lessons that go far beyond the game.
Looking back, I can see how sports played a role in shaping the person I am today.
Sports demand dedication and discipline, which can feel daunting at first. Whether you want to play for enjoyment or aim to compete, it’s never too late to start.
Who knows? You might just be the next Sachin Tendulkar or Cristiano Ronaldo in the making!
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