Top 10 Most Popular Sports in Pakistan

What is The National Sport of Pakistan?

Field hockey is Pakistan’s national sport. Field hockey has a long history in Pakistan, and the country has had significant success in international games such as the Olympics and the Hockey World Cup. Cricket, on the other hand, is immensely popular and is sometimes regarded as the de facto national sport in Pakistan due to its large popularity and success.

About Pakistan

Pakistan is the world’s fifth-most populated country, with the second-largest Muslim population, and is located in South Asia, west of India. It shares borders with India, Afghanistan, Iran, and China, and its capital city, Islamabad, has a population of more than 1,014,000 people (but more than 4,104,000 if the metropolitan region is included!).

The most popular sports in the country are a fascinating part of the country that I wanted to investigate. In light of this, I’ve included all of Pakistan’s popular sports, which I hope you enjoy.

1. Cricket

Cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan.

Cricket is unquestionably the sport that Pakistanis value the most. Almost every neighborhood and area in the country has a cricket team, and the national team has won multiple international events, including the Cricket World Cup and the ICC World Twenty20.

Furthermore, the women’s squad is immensely popular, and Kiran Baluch now holds the record for the greatest score in a women’s test match

Famous Cricket players of Pakistan: Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Shahid Khan Afridi, Waqar Younis, Kiran Baluch, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Hanif Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Qadir.

2. Field Hockey

Field hockey is Pakistan’s second most popular sport.

Pakistan’s national sport is ranked second on this list, and it is regulated by the Pakistan Hockey Federation, which was founded in 1948.

Again, the national team has had great success on a global basis, holding three gold medals at the Olympic Games, four Hockey World Cups, and several Asian gold medals. Unsurprisingly, it’s ranked among the top teams in the world!

Famous Hockey players of Pakistan: Sohail Abbas, Hassan Sardar, Samiullah Khan, Shahbaz Ahmed, Waseem Ahmad, Rehan Butt, Akhtar Rasool, Shakeel Abbasi

3. Football

Football is Pakistan’s third most popular sport. Football, the most popular sport in the world, is also popular in Pakistan. The country is, in reality, the official producer of the FIFA World Cup ball.

The sport dates back to the mid-nineteenth century when British soldiers brought it to British India. It was previously played between army teams, and before 2002, there was no female club.

The national team is not particularly successful, although the sport is extremely popular in the country.

Famous Football players of Pakistan: Zesh Rehman, Kaleemullah Khan, Hassan Bashir, Yousuf Butt, Muhammad Essa, Adnan Ahmed, Jaffar Khan, Atif Bashir, Nabil Aslam, Muhammad Adil

4. Polo

Polo is Pakistan’s fourth most popular sport.

Believe it or not, Polo is still popular in nations such as Pakistan. The sport is thought to have originated in Persia, of which Pakistan is now a part.

There are other significant yearly contests, especially the Shandur Polo Tournament, which is held every summer in Northern Pakistan at the world’s highest polo pitch. Because of its high position, this location is regarded as the border between heaven and hell.

Famous Polo players of Pakistan: Hissam Ali Haider

5. Squash

Squash is the fifth most popular sport in Pakistan. The sport has a vast amount of following in Pakistan

The fifth most popular sport in Pakistan is squash. Squash has a very large following in Pakistan, and for a long time, the country has been dominant.

The most famous player, Jahangir Khan, was unbeaten for 555 matches in a row… setting a world record! Jansher Khan is also regarded as a squash legend, having won multiple World Squash Championships. With the help of both legends having 14 world-open wins, they established Pakistan as the most decorated squash country in the world!

Squash is a racket-and-ball sport played on a four-walled court by two or four players using a tiny, hollow rubber ball. The players take turns hitting the ball with their rackets onto the playing surfaces of the court’s four walls.

Famous Squash players of Pakistan: Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan, Hashim Khan, Azam Khan, Qamar Zaman, Roshan Khan, Mohibullah Khan, Gogi Alauddin, Mohibullah “Mo” Khan, Torsam Khan

6. Athletics

Athletics is Pakistan’s sixth most popular sport in Pakistan. Athletics is governed in Pakistan by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan, which was founded in 1951.

The best Pakistani athletes only competed a long time ago and won several gold medals. Pakistan used to hold the Asian 100m and 200m records, and female athletes have also represented the country at the international level.

In Pakistan, there are yearly National Athletics Championships.

Famous Athletic players of Pakistan: Arshad Nadeem, Shabana Akhtar, Rabia Ashiq, Sadaf Siddiqui, Aqarab Abbas, Mehboob Ali, Liaquat Ali, Sumaira Zahoor, Muhammad Younis

7. Snooker

Snooker is Pakistan’s seventh most popular sport.

Snooker is a cue sport that was invented in India by British officers in the mid-nineteenth century. It is played on a table similar to billiards, but considerably larger. The regulations are also a bit different.

The sport is growing in popularity in Pakistan. The Pakistan Billiard & Snooker Federation was created in 1958, and Naveen Perwani is a well-known Pakistani snooker player. The Sindh Snooker Cup is the local competition.

Famous Snooker players of Pakistan: Muhammad Yousaf, Muhammad Sajjad, Shokat Ali, Khurram Hussain Agha, Hamza Akbar, Saleh Mohammad, Naveen Perwani, Farakh Ajaib

8. Table Tennis

Table tennis is Pakistan’s eighth most popular sport.

Table tennis is another (maybe unexpected) popular sport in Pakistan. Its regulatory organization is the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation, which was founded in 1951 as well, and the sport is particularly popular among the country’s young.

Farjad Saif is the most accomplished Pakistani table tennis player, having represented the country at the Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul. He outperformed everyone’s expectations by ranking 25th in the world.

Famous Table Tennis players of Pakistan: Michael Rodrigues, Farjad Saif

9. Badminton

Badminton is the ninth most popular sport in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Badminton Federation has been in charge of the sport since 1953, and there are many successful Pakistani badminton players. Men’s names include Irshad Ahmed and Saeed Malik, while women’s names include Elsie Hunt and Nighat Sultana. They have all won multiple events.

The golden period of badminton in Pakistan occurred between the 1950s and the 1970s, although certain stars, such as Toqeer Shah in 2009, continue to emerge.

Famous Badminton players of Pakistan: Irshad Ahmed, Mahoor Shahzad, Elsie Hunt, Rizwan Azam, Saeed Malik, Azeem Sarwar, Muhammad Irfan Saeed Bhatti, Tariq Farooq, Sulehri Kashif Ali, Nighat Sultana, Palwasha Bashir, Bushra Qayyum

10. Tennis

Tennis is Pakistan’s tenth most popular sport.

Tennis is yet another popular racket sport in Pakistan. While it is not as popular as table tennis or badminton (mostly because tennis is typically associated with the higher classes), it nevertheless has a fan audience and a fair participant base.

The Pakistan Tennis Federation organizes several competitions on a national level, but the country has yet to achieve success on a global scale: only Khawaja Saeed Hai has reached a Grand Slam tournament and advanced to the third round.

Famous Tennis players of Pakistan: Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Haroon Rahim, Khawaja Saeed Hai, Saeed Meer, Munawar Iqbal, Mahmoud Alam, Ahmed-Hasan Khokhar, Saba Aziz

Benefits of Playing Sports

Physical Benefits:

1. Physical Fitness: Engaging in sports helps improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall physical fitness.

2. Weight Management: Regular participation in sports helps in managing and maintaining a healthy body weight.

3. Motor Skills: Sports require various movements that enhance coordination, balance, agility, and fine motor skills.

4. Bone Health: Weight-bearing sports promote bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures later in life.

5. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Regular physical activity through sports can lower the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

6. Better Sleep: Active engagement in sports can improve sleep patterns and quality, leading to better overall health.

Mental and Emotional Benefits:

1. Stress Relief: Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters that reduce stress and anxiety.

2. Mental Clarity: Sports can help clear the mind, improve concentration, and enhance cognitive functions.

3. Self-Esteem: Achievements in sports, both big and small, boost self-confidence and self-esteem.

4. Emotional Well-being: Participating in sports provides a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and overall emotional well-being.

5. Resilience: Sports teach resilience by requiring players to cope with losses, setbacks, and challenges.

That’s a wrap on our Top 10 Most Popular Sports in Pakistan Blog.

When you have any precise Sports-related questions, drop us a remark underneath!

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