When you think of US sports, your mind is likely to drift to Basketball, American Football, Baseball, and other games that families tune in weekly to watch or play. Take a look at some of the lesser-known sports in the US that others in different places are fanatic about.
9. Fencing
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/706642997756538703/
A magnificent, thrilling twirl of swords combined with the grace of a dancer takes number nine on this list. Fencing is popular in European countries, such as France, Italy, and Germany, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why. There's a thrill from witnessing steel clash with each other elegantly that nothing else can quite compare to.
8. Water Polo
https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/water-polo-for-dummies-faq-explained/
Water Polo, the volleyball of the sea. Already an intense sport being taken to another level by the adding weight of water attracts many people from Hungary, Croatia, and Serbia, to name a few countries.
7. Sumo
https://www.japanistry.com/event/march-sumo-tournament/
Sumo is a full-body contact sport, played by two men, also known as rikishis. The goal is to force the opponent out of the ring or to pin them down, much like boxing. This sport is wildly enjoyed in Japan, with almost 800 thousand people watching it annually.
6. Chess Boxing
https://www.frontrunner.tv/2017/03/06/chessboxing/
Yes. You read that right. Chess boxing. 4 minutes of the board and 3 in the ring, which repeats for 6 rounds of chess and 5 rounds of boxing. First to win either match wins the game in this eccentric sport. It's no surprise that 10,000 people in Western Europe tune in monthly to watch this odd test of mind and strength.
5. Rugby
https://news.yahoo.com/rugby-union-halfpenny-delighted-triumphant-return-134940453.html
Rugby. This American-Football-like sport is played with two teams of fifteen people trying to get the ball into the other team's endzone. Each year the average number of people who watch the world cup is upwards of 10 million people. This sport is quite popular in countries such as South Africa and New Zealand.
4. Netball
https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2019-07-21/england-win-bronze-at-netball-world-cup/
Netball is an intense, heart-pounding sport, played by two teams of seven. It is much like basketball, except there is no body contact, and dribbling is kept to a minimum. It is extremely popular in Commonwealth nations, where some 20 million people play it, and nearly a billion people watch it annually.
3. Kabaddi
The most intense game of tag you'll ever play in your life, Kabaddi, is a game where two teams of seven try to tag the opposing team's members for as many points as possible. This sport is remarkably popular in India, with nearly half a million people watching its inaugural season.
2. Badminton
https://hiveminer.com/Tags/badminton%2Csmash/Timeline
This lightning-fast clash of endurance keeps viewers and players alike on edge. It is the second most participatory in the world, right behind soccer, and has 1.1 billion people on average watching its Olympic debuts. This sport is popular in just about all of Asia, yet is mostly unheard of in the U.S.
1. Cricket
2.5 Billion People. That's what it takes to become the world's second most popular sport. 2.5 Billion people that dedicate themselves to this game. For the American context, the 2020 super bowl had 100 million watchers. Two teams face off with over a quarter of the world watching each year, and there is no doubt as to why. This game is headed by India, Pakistan, and the UK.
I hope that everyone who reads this can open up their mind to new sports and respect them as much as they regard their own. Perhaps you heard about a sport you never knew. Possibly you recognized just how titanic sports that you disregarded at a glance were. Maybe you might even decide to try out one of these sports for yourself. No matter what, thank you for reading.
