Spell It: From sepak takraw to kabaddi, discover national sports with a twist
We learn about popular sports played around the world that may seem strange at first look
Every country has a national sport, and most are well-established – from hockey to football. But there are several sports out there that raise eyebrows and interest, for their unusual techniques and rules.
Click start to play today’s Spell It, where ‘logrolling’ could be considered as one such strange sport.
Here are three unusual sports (that are just as competitive and fun as any other) from around the world that may surprise you:
1. Sepak takraw, Philippines
It looks like volleyball, but observe it a little longer and you’ll find that players are using every part of their body – except the arms and hands – to hit the ball. The Philippines’ national sport, sepak takraw (‘sepak’ from the Thai word for ‘kick’, and takraw from the Malay word ‘woven ball’) is played all over southeast Asia. It’s a showcase of incredible athleticism, as players skillfully manoeuvre with their feet, legs and even chest. The game involves just four players per squad on the court at a time.
2. Kabbadi, India and Bangladesh
As the official sport in several Indian states, and the national sport of Bangladesh, kabaddi or hadudu is an ancient game that originated in Tamil Nadu, India, over 4,000 years ago. It involves a player trying to tag opponent team members while making his way to the opposing zone, all the while avoiding being tackled to the ground. Here’s the catch – the player must accomplish this difficult task while holding his breath! The sport is incredibly popular in the Subcontinent and is played at local, regional and national levels.
3. Tejo, Colombia
Similar to the American lawn game, cornhole, tejo involves players tossing a 600g metal puck (the tejo) – directly at explosives! Raucous cheering from the audience usually accompanies the miniature explosions. The target is usually laced with gunpowder and set in a 45-degree angle, so that it makes a satisfying ‘pop’ sound when it is struck.
Which game do you find unusual and interesting? Play today’s Spell It and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.