While you might be used to more popular sports that have worldwide participation, there are some bizarre national sports practiced around the world.
Each and everyone of us can name at least a handful of sports right off the top of your mind, and you can even name where the best players of each sports comes from. Credits should go to televised competitions and championships, which bring you the action straight to you the convenience of your home. But there are some pretty unusual and strange national sports that are really popular in a different part of the world.
Kabaddi
Similar to the kid’s game “tag” or “it”, this sport involves a person running after people, trying to tag them.
Popular in Bangladesh and India, Kabaddi rules are both simple and complex. Two teams of seven player stand on either side of a field. It is then the up to the “raider” of each team to run into the opponent’s side and tap a rival player and make it back without being caught.
Well, not that simple. While running back, the raider has to hold his/her breath, yelling “Kabaddi, Kabaddi”, whilst fighting off opponents trying to tackle him/her down.
Pato
You’ve watch basketball, and you sure know about polo, but in Argentina there’s a hybrid which involves tossing a live duck into a basket from a horse.
This is no joke, however, modern versions of the game replaced the duck with a handled ball.
Two teams of of four ride across the field trying to score through a netted vertical loop. Sounds fun, no?
Sepak Takraw
Imagine volleyball and martial arts, that is basically the Philippines sepak takraw. They can use any body part to hit the ball over the net, except their hands, of course.
This sport requires a good showcase of athleticism as players use their legs, feet, chests, and whatever else, except their hands, to toss a small ball across a mid-air net.
Oil Wrestling
This is actually longest continuously running national sporting event in the world, dating back to 1362.
Two men grease each other down in olive oil, and then spend the next 40 minutes trying to pin each other down. Oh, and they are naked, except for the “kispet” shorts, which are allowed to be pulled down.
Buzkashi
This is maybe the only sport in the world in which the equipment include a dead animal.
The national sport of Afghanistan requires men on horses to drag the carcass of a goat across a field. We really don’t know how much more info you need to accept this as the weirdest among national sports. Ever!
