Sports in Kolkata

Kolkata is celebrating; people are running on the streets, shouting slogans, cheering for their heroes. The reason for celebration: Brazil has won the FIFA World cup for the fifth time! Are you surprised with then fact that on earth Kolkata is celebrating for the cause? Well the incident is enough to describe you the passion with which the locals of the city follow their sports. Sports in Kolkata is as famous as the Durga Puja (local celebration) of the city. The Kolkatans are huge sports lover and are very much passionate about their sports. It is observed that most of the Bengali kids regularly visit either of sports to keep themselves fit right from their childhood.

Among the various sports played in Kolkata Football has a special place in the hearts of the locals. Football has the biggest fan following in the city. As a matter of fact Kolkata is regarded as the 'Mecca of Indian Football'. Cricket in the city gives Football a close run for its money in terms of popularity. The recent success of some of the local players at the National level has paved the way for the popularity of the sports in the city. The success of the National team in the International arena too has helped the cause.

Apart from Football and Cricket other sports like Tennis, Golf and Chess too have earned their share of popularity ion the city. The city has produced players like Leander Paes, Dibendu Barua and Surya Sekhar Ganguly (youngest Grandmaster in India) who have made a mark in the International sports circuit.

Sports in Kolkata are taken care of by the local administration and the government has played their part in the development of sports in the city. It has provided the best of the facilities to the players with the four stadiums with brilliant facilities. The stadiums are: Netaji Indoor Stadium, Eden Gardens, Yuba Bharati Kriraangan and Rabindra Sarovar Stadium. Other than these Kolkata also boasts of the famous Calcutta South Club (tennis) and Gorky Sadan (chess).