5 sports where India has dominated the world

India is a vast country with a diverse population. These very characteristics of the country make it home to a number of sports that are practised and cherished in its different areas. Although cricket is the most popular sport in the country, there are various other games where India has dominated the world over the years.Thanks to its high fan following, Indias cricketing achievements are much better known than those in other sports. However, the country has been at the pinnacle of several non-cricket sports too, and here we take a look at five of them:

#5 Chess

Viswanathan Anand after winning the World Chess Championship in 2008

A global sport whose origins lie in India, chess recently saw an era of dominance by the Chennai-born Viswanathan Anand. Anand became India's first grandmaster in 1988 and held the FIDE World Championship from 2000 to 2002.

It was for a period of 6 years, between 2007 and 2013, that Anand was the undisputed World Champion, winning the World Chess Championship four times. He was ranked World No. 1 for 21 months, while he is the only the 4th player in history to pass the 2800 Elo mark on the FIDE rating list.

#4 Cue Sports

Pankaj Advani poses with his trophies

Indians have been the dominant global force in cue sports on several occasions in the post. Ever since Wilson Jones won the amateur World Billiards Championship in 1958, India has had many players who have ruled the roost in the sport.

Michael Ferreira won three world championships during the 1970s and 1980s, before the great Geet Sethi set an era of complete dominance. Sethi won the Amateur World Billiards Championship in 1985, 1987 and 2001, while also winning the Professional World Billiards Championship five times from 1992 to 2009.

The only player to win professional world titles in both formats (long and short) of snooker and both formats (time and point) of billiards is also an Indian - Pankaj Advani. The 30-year-old has won 10 World Championships in billiards and 5 in snooker.

#3 Cricket

The victorious Indian cricket team at the 2011 World Cup

The most popular game in India, cricket is said to be a religion in the country. The Indian cricket team has developed a rich legacy over the years, and the country has always been a tough place to visit for every nation thanks to the unique conditions in the subcontinent.

India have twice been World Champions in the sport, first in 1983 and then again in 2011. Since the turn of the 21st century, Indian cricket has come of age and the national team has been among the top three teams in all the formats of the game.

India are currently ranked No. 1 in T20, No. 3 in ODIs and No. 2 in Tests, and they've been among the most potent forces in world cricket for a while now.

#2 Field Hockey

The Indian hockey team which won Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

India are the most successful team in the history of world hockey. The Indian hockey team has amassed 11 Olympic medals, including 8 gold medals over the years.

India were the most dominant force in hockey in the first half of the 20th century, and won six straight gold medals at the Olympics from 1928 to 1956. After being forced to take silver in 1960, India regained its gold in 1964.

India’s potency in the sport faded after that, especially after the introduction of artificial playing surfaces. However, India won the Hockey World Cup in 1975, before winning the Olympic Gold again in 1980.

They haven't won a world title since then, but the Indian team has started its rise to the top of world hockey once again. Currently ranked seventh in the world, the Indian team is showing great promise, and it may well replicate the feats of the bygone champions in the upcoming Olympics.

#1 Kabaddi

The victorious Indian team at the 2014 Asian Games

At the top of the pile is the most popular indigenous sport in India – kabaddi – which was born and nurtured in the country. Over the years, India has helped promote the sport across the globe, and it is now part of the Asian Games.

There have been seven editions of the Kabaddi World Cup thus far, and India has won all seven of them. They have also won all the seven gold medals in the Asian Games, with the women's team being almost as dominant. India has lost just one match in kabaddi – vs Pakistan in 1993.

With all the local and global accolades in the sport claimed by India, they are the ultimate superpower in the sport. And with the launch and success of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, the dominance looks set to continue.