SPORT IN INDIA

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1931, Page 12

SPORT IN INDIA

NATIVES ENTHUSIASTIC. CRICKET AND SOCCER POPULAR “Indians have taken up nearly' every branch of English sport very enthusiastically, a'nd they are fine sportsmen,” said Mr. Charles H. Partridge, a visitor to Christchurch from Bombay at present. He has been in that centre tor nearly 30 years, although, says the Press, 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 is the quadrangular cricket tournament between teams representing the- Englishmen, the Hindus, the Mohammedans, and the Par Sees. During that tournament business is practically 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 ten days. -The scoring, on grass wickets, is often very high, and totals over 400 for an innings, with individual centurie's, not at all uncommon. “Unfortunately the strained relations existing between the various sections of the community during the last two seasons has made it impossible to hold the fixture. “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 iu Calcutta, -where there are native clubs which rank as really first class, and which have occupied .leading positions in the annual competition of tne League. In Calcutta there .are two or three European elevens, about six .military; and four or five Indian teams. “Rugby has not been taken on as vet, although in the centres the milltary teams give exhibitions. Of course, the Rugbv season is necessarily short, being confined to the rainy season, lasting just four months. Soccer is usually played for three months and Rugby or the remaining month. Then it is time to roll the cricket pitches again.