Athletics consists of track and field events, representing the oldest and most natural forms of human physical expression: running, jumping, and throwing.
The first recorded organized track and field events occurred at the Ancient Olympic Games in 776 B.C. in Olympia, Greece, featuring a single event called the stadion footrace. Later, the pentathlon was introduced, consisting of five events: discus throw, long jump, javelin throw, stadion footrace, and wrestling.
In modern history, the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) was established in England in 1880, and the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) was founded in 1912. In India, the Amateur Athletics Federation of India (AAFI) was established in 1946 to manage and promote the sport nationally.
Athletics events are classified into four primary categories:
| Short Distance Races | Middle Distance Races | Long Distance Races |
|---|---|---|
| 100 m, 200 m, 400 m | 800 m, 1500 m | 3000 m steeplechase, 5000 m, 10,000 m |
| Hurdles (100 m, 110 m, 400 m) | - | 20 km & 50 km walking, Marathon |
| Relays (4×100 m, 4×400 m) | - | - |
| Jumping Events | Throwing Events |
|---|---|
| Long Jump | Shot Put |
| High Jump | Discus Throw |
| Triple Jump | Javelin Throw |
| Pole Vault | Hammer Throw |
Starting the Race: Races are started with a starting gun. The two main types of starts are:
Finishing Techniques: The three primary methods to finish a race are Lunging forward, Shoulder shrug, and Run through.
Relay Races: Team events consisting of four runners. The baton must be exchanged within a designated 20 m exchange zone. Methods of baton exchange include Downward pass, Upward pass, and Push pass.
The Government of India honors outstanding coaches and sportspersons with prestigious national awards:
Badminton is a fast-paced racket sport played indoors. It was historically known as Poona or Poonah in India during the 1860s.
A match consists of the best of three games of 21 points. Points are scored on every serve (rally scoring). If the score reaches 20-all, the side gaining a 2-point lead first wins. If it reaches 29-all, the side scoring the 30th point wins.
Fundamental Strokes:
Gymnastics originated in ancient Greece and is regulated globally by the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG), founded in 1881. The Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) was formed in 1951.
Gymnastics routines are performed on specific apparatuses categorized by gender:
| Apparatus | Key Specifications |
|---|---|
| Uneven Bars | Upper bar height: 2.50 m; Lower bar height: 1.70 m; Length: 2.10 m |
| Horizontal Bar | Height: 2.80 m; Length: 2.40 m; Bar diameter: 2.8 cm |
| Pommel Horse | Height from floor: 1.15 m; Length: 1.60 m; Pommel height: 12 cm |
| Roman Rings | Inner ring diameter: 18 cm; Distance from attachment: 3 m |
| Balancing Beam | Height: 1.25 m; Length: 5 m; Width: 10 cm |
| Floor Performance Area | 12 m × 12 m |
Judo is a modern martial art and self-defense system created in Japan by Jigoro Kano in 1882. The Judo Federation of India (JFI) was established in 1965.
An international match lasts four minutes. The primary objective is to score an Ippon (immediate victory), which can be achieved by throwing an opponent flat on their back, or by holding them in an armlock/stranglehold or pinning them for 20 seconds. The next best score is Waza-ari.
Penalties are awarded as Shido (minor infractions). Accumulating three Shidos results in a Hansoku-make (disqualification and loss of match).
The contest area is covered with Tatamis (pressed foam mats) measuring 14 m × 14 m or 16 m × 16 m, with a central combat zone of 9 m × 9 m or 10 m × 10 m. Players wear a traditional uniform called a Judogi secured by an Obi (belt) indicating their rank.
Swimming emerged as a competitive sport in England in the early 1800s. The world governing body, FINA, was formed in 1908, and the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) was established in 1948.
Competitive swimming features four primary strokes:
Table Tennis (historically known as Ping-Pong) is a popular indoor racket sport. The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was founded in 1926.
A game is won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points. If both sides reach 10 points, the game is won by the first side to gain a 2-point lead. Service alternates every 2 points. The expedite system is introduced if a game is not completed after 10 minutes of play (unless 18 or more points have been scored).
Wrestling is one of the oldest combat sports. Globally, it is governed by United World Wrestling (UWW), and nationally by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The wrestling mat is a 12 m × 12 m square containing:
Points Classification: