About Mysore Sports

The Wodeyar kings of Mysore were patrons of various games and sports. King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III had a passion for indoor games. He invented new board games and popularised the ganjifa card game.The sport of traditional wrestling has a history dating back to the 16th century in Mysore.This tradition still continues and the wrestling competition held in Mysore during the Dasara celebrations attracts wrestlers from all over India. An annual sports meet comprising of various events is also organised in Mysore during the Dasara season.

In 1997, the city along with Bangalore co-hosted its biggest sports event ever, the National Games of India. Mysore was the venue for six events: archery, gymnastics, equestrian events, handball,table tennis and wrestling.Cricket is by far the most popular sport in Mysore.The city has four established cricket grounds, but is yet to host an international cricket match.Javagal Srinath, who represented India for several years as its fast bowling spearhead, hails from Mysore.Other prominent sportsmen from the city include Prahlad Srinath, who has represented India in Davis Cup tennis tournaments; Reeth Abraham, who was an Indian national champion in the heptathlon and a long jump record holder; and Rahul Ganapathy, a national amateur golf champion.

The Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course, was established in 1906.This golf course is laid around the Mysore race course, which is popular for the Mysore racing season held each year from August through October.Mysore is the birthplace of the youth hostel movement in India, with the first youth hostel formed in the Maharaja's College Hostel in 1949.