5 lesser known sports which require extreme fitness and agility
Animals constantly thrive to prove their dominance and supremacy within their group so they can have access to the best resources available. That's why they are very particular regarding the display of dominance, authority, and aggression, as these characteristics help them to protect their precious resources.
Since they don't have sports to display such characteristics, they simply fight among themselves, and in some cases, even with other species.
Similarly, we humans also want to establish our mental and physical supremacy but we opt for a much-civilized way to achieve the same, i.e. through sports. Out of many sports which are played around the globe, only a handful of them is truly global in character while having world level athletes from multiple countries.
There are a huge number of sports which are played by the people of a very small, specific region, but require an extreme amount of energy, agility, and fitness to play and master them. We have shortlisted a few of them.
So let's begin.
Sepak Takraw - This game is played predominantly in South East Asia, and has historical evidence that it was played during the 15th century in the region which is modern day Malaysia. The game is played with a rattan ball and the players can only use their hand, knee, chest, and head to touch it during the play.
Usually played in 3 different formats as doubles, regu, and team regu, the Asian Games are the biggest sporting platform for this game. First included in 1990 Beijing Asian Games, since then, Thailand has dominated this game and won 22 gold medals until the 2014 Incheon Games.
Sepak takraw in action
Dodgeball - Known as Sekan-Tadi or Gend-Tadi in India, Da Yi Mao in China, and Datchball in Spain, this game requires the quickest feet and split-second reactions. The origin of this game is often contested, but this hasn't harmed the fun part of the game.
The game in its most ruthless and deadly avatar was played in Africa about 200 years ago. It's a team sport in which players of two teams try to throw balls at each other while avoiding being hit themselves.
A version of dodgeball played on a trampoline surface increases the excitement and agility. This game is mostly played for recreational purposes only.
Kho Kho - A popular version of the tag game played predominantly in India, Kho Kho requires quick feet and lightning fast decisions. With no historical proof regarding its origin, kho-kho is predominantly played in the rural areas of the Indian subcontinent.
Played for the first time at an international sporting event at the 2016 South Asian Games in Guwahati, it is a team sport where each team consists of twelve players, but only nine players take the field.
A match consists of two innings with each inning consisting of chasing and running turns of 9 minutes each. It's a game which doesn't require any costly equipment, and encourages a lot of synchronization and team building.
Slamball - This is exciting. It's basketball on steroids. A game in which the players literally fly and perform powerful dunks. The game was created by Mason Gordon, who wanted to create a sport that combines basketball, gymnastics, hockey, and football while looking like a real-life video game.
The game was first aired in the U.S.A. in the year 2002, and since then, it is spreading to other corners of the world.
Developed by a basketball and fitness enthusiast, it's a mixture of acrobatics and basketball played at a very high tempo and momentum. The game until now is only played for recreational purposes and lacks global attention, but is a highly competitive sport.
Kabaddi - While India and Iran both claim that the game originated at their respective countries, kabaddi is a very exciting game which requires a lot of physical strength and agility.
Not yet played at the Olympics, this game is very famous in the Indian subcontinent, and slowing gaining global audience due to its very popular Pro Kabaddi League which is played in India and attracts players from around the world.
Traditionally, the game was played on top of loose soil field but in the modern times, it's played on mats inside indoor stadiums. Until 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, India never lost out on the gold medal in any world level sporting event, in both men's and women's events.
But in the 2018 games, both teams were not able to claim the gold medal.
