India's national sport is field hockey, although cricket is now the de facto national game due to its success and popularity in recent times. But cricket is not the most popular sport in quite a few states, particularly in the northeast. Chess is another international sport in which India is quite strong: Viswanathan Anand was FIDE World Champion, and several players have made significant inroads in recent years, well past the Grandmaster level. India also has a tradition of cue sports (snooker, billiards, etc) and shooting.

India has had relatively little success in other international events like the Olympics, where it garnered just one silver medal and two bronze medals in the previous three outings. However, it had won eight field hockey golds until 1980. India has done rather well in Davis Cup tennis tournaments, reaching the finals on three occasions. Its players have secured several individual titles and Grand Slam doubles wins, but an Indian is yet to win a Grand Slam singles.

Traditional indigenous sports include polo, kabaddi, Kho Kho and gilli-danda, which are played in most parts of the country. Chess, badminton and carrom are also said to have originated in India. Snooker and badminton have seen Indians achieve some international success. Football (soccer) is also widely watched in almost the entire country, and is the most popular sport in many states. Formula 1 racing is also increasing in popularity, due to racing driver Narain Karthikeyan, though its reach is largely limited to urban areas.

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