SPORT IN INDIA.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20415, 9 December 1931, Page 13

SPORT IN INDIA.

NATIVES ENTHUSIASTIC. CRICKET AND SOCCER POPULAR. "Indians have taken up nearly every branch of English sport very enthusiastically, and they are fine sportsmen," said Mr Charles H. Partridge, a visitor to Christchurch from Bombay at present. He has been in that centre for nearly 30 years, although born in Christchurch. "In Bombay there are more cricket clubs than there is ground available for playing fields, and one of the features of the year's sporting calendar ia the quadrangular cricket tournament between teams representing the Englishmen, the Hindus, the Mohammedans, and the Parsees. During that tournament business is practicaily at a standstill, and crowds of 20,000 people and over attend daily. The matches are . played to a finish, and the whole tournament usually occupies 10 days. The ' scoring, on grass wickets, is often very high, and totals over 400 for an innings, with individual centuries, not at all uncommon. "Unfortunately the strained relations existing between the various sections o"f the community during the last, two seasons has made it impossible to hold the fixture. Barracking a Feature. "The spectators, in Australia have earned a world-wide reputation as barrackers, but the natives in Bombay must hold the barracking championship if there is such a thing. When excitement is intense the crowd either cheer or jeer at every bowl that is bowled. "The normal season is a long one, being nearly eight months of the year, • and there is a long programme of interclub competition matches. All sections of the community enter and take part. "The interest, is not confined to the large cities, and some of the States give support to cricket teams, while many of the princes of States have invited the best professionals from England to spend a season with them. "Tennis is a popular sport throughout India, and many of the championships are held in the various centres by natives. Indian and European clubs meet in competition. Soccer is taken up with intense enthusiasm') especially. in' Calcutta, where there are' native clubs Which rank as really firßt felass, and which have occupied leading positions in the annual competitions of the League. In Calcutta there are two or three European elevens, about six military, and four or five Indian teams. Rugby Xot Popular. "Bugby has not been taken on as yet, although in the 'centres the military teams give exhibitions. Of course, the Sugby season is necessarily short, being ■ confined to the rainy season, lasting just four months. Soccer is- usually played for three months and Bugby for the remaining month. Then it is time to roll the cricket pitches again. "There are a great .many hunt clubs in India, English packs being used. Baeing, too, is extremely popular. . In Bombay the Western India - Turf Club holds a meeting each week fr.otn November to the middle of March'. In Poona, i2O miles away, and at an altitude of 2000 ft, meetings are held each week from August to October. The betting in the past has been throiigh the totalisator, but, there is- a.'move- . ment by the Government to license, certain bookmakers as well. "The horses are. .now of . . .English breeding,, but\ in the earlier nearly all from .Australia/' Mr. -Partridge concluded,