What are the strangest sports you’ve ever heard of?
Continue reading because we have compiled a list of some of the strangest sports in the world. Some are so outlandish that you’d think it’s all a sham.
We are accustomed to watching popular sports such as soccer, basketball, and cricket. However, many sports are unique to a particular country.
While visitors to the country may find the sports strange or even bizarre, many of the sports mentioned today are old and traditional. However, the list includes some unusual modern-day sports.
But the strangeness is also a good thing because it piques people’s interest. It adds to the sport’s enjoyment factor.
Without further ado, let us take a look at some of the world’s strangest sports.
The Top 10 Strangest Sports in the World
We compiled the list using online resources such as Sportingnews, Goliath, and others. But, before we get into the specifics, take a look at the list.
| Sports | Country |
| 10. Sepak Takraw | Malaysia |
| 9. Kabaddi | Bangladesh |
| 8. Tuk Tuk Polo | Sri Lanka |
| 7. Zorbing | New Zealand |
| 6. Chess Boxing | Germany |
| 5. Extreme Ironing | United Kingdom |
| 4. Bossaball | Belgium |
| 3. Wife Carrying | Finland |
| 2. Buzkashi | Afghanistan |
| 1. Cheese Rolling | United Kingdom |
10. Sepak Taraw
The first sport we’ll discuss is Malaysia’s national sport. Sepak Takraw is a sport that combines volleyball and football and is played between two teams of two to four players.
The sport is named after two words: Sepak in Malay, which means kick, and Takraw in Thai, which means muzzle or woven rattan ball. It means “to kick a rattan ball.”
The game is played on a court similar to a badminton court. To touch the ball, players can use their feet, knees, shoulders, chest, and heads. In the game, a rattan, which is a synthetic plastic ball, is used.
“Sepak Raga Jaring” was the sport’s surname. The game was first shown in Penang in 1945. However, the modern version of the game was introduced and standardized in 1960.
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Myanmar joined forces to standardize the sport. Following that, the sport was included in the 1965 Southeast Asian Games. Similarly, the game has been a part of the Asian Games since 1990.
The International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) was formed in 1988 to govern the sport and is in charge of major international tournaments.
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9. Kabaddi
Kabaddi ranks ninth on our list of the strangest sports. In comparison to many of the other games on our list, it may not appear strange to you. But the game is still strange.
Kabaddi is a national sport of Bangladesh, but it originated in Tamil Nadu in Ancient India. The game is played by two squads of seven players each.
The rules of the game are what makes it strange. It is divided into two types: Punjabi Kabaddi, which is more traditional, and the standard style, which is more modern.
Let us break down the games into simple terms. There are two sides to the playground. The players must then run into their opponent’s half, tag an opponent, and leg it back to their half without being caught.
If a player is caught or tackled before entering their half of the field, they must leave the field. They can, however, be brought back with each point scored by their team.
The game gained popularity as a competitive sport in the twentieth century. Similarly, the game is one of the Asian Games sports.
8. Tuk Tuk Polo
We’ve arrived at the strange part. Tuk Polo ranks eighth on our list of the strangest sports. Tuk Tuk is a popular mode of transportation in many parts of Asia. They combined it with Polo, giving rise to the game Tuk Tuk Polo.
The game is relatively new, having debuted in 2016. The sport began as a substitute for a type of polo sport. Polo was previously played on elephant backs.
The game takes place on a field large enough to accommodate a vehicle. There are two teams, each with two Tuk Tuks, and goalposts are located on both ends of the field.
One Tuk Tuk is shared by two players, with one piloting the vehicle and the other maneuvering the ball. The ball is wielded by the players using short mallet-like sticks.
The goal of the game is similar to that of Polo. The players attempt to score as many goals at their opponent’s goalpost as possible.
Although the game is popular in Sri Lanka, who knows when it will become popular all over the world?
7. Zorbing
The next strange sport comes from New Zealand. Zorbing is also known as globe-riding, sphering, and orbing. The sport has grown in popularity in recent years.
You can see why the sport is popular just by looking at it. The sport has a recreational and fun component in addition to the competitive aspect.
A player enters a transparent plastic orb. The orb is then pushed down a gentle slope. The orbs can be either harnessed or unharnessed.
The majority of the game takes place on a hillside. It is, however, also played on a level surface. In the absence of a slope, it is sometimes possible to build wooden or metal ramps.
Similarly, water Zorbing has grown in popularity over time. When the player enters, the orb is properly inflated and sealed in water Zorbing.
Rotorua, New Zealand, was the first Zorbing location. The sport has grown in popularity all over the world. Water walking is a popular form of Zorbing that has gained popularity in many countries.
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6. Chess Boxing
You may have heard of chess and boxing as distinct sports. But, at number six on our list of the strangest sports, we have Chess and Boxing, a hybrid of the two.
You might be surprised to learn that the first attempt at combining chess and boxing took place in the late 1970s.
The event was held in a boxing club outside of London. The first event was organized by Dutch performance artist Lepe Rubingh.
However, the first competition was held in 2003 in Berlin. Two competitors compete in 11 rounds of six blitz chess and five boxing the game.
The game can be won by knockout, technical knockout, checkmate, or going over the time limit in the chess round.
The sport is governed by the World Chessboxing Association and the World Chess Boxing Organization. The sport, which originated in London, is now popular in countries such as Finland, Russia, and India.
5. Excessive Ironing
This game is for those who enjoy ironing. Extreme Ironing is a sport that ranks fifth on our list of the strangest sports. Ironing has been taken to its logical conclusion in this sport.
There is some disagreement about the sport’s origin story. Some say Tony Hiam invented the sport in 1980, after being inspired by his eccentric brother-in-law, who ironed while camping.
Meanwhile, some claim that Phil Shaw founded the sport in 1997. The sport has grown in popularity, and people are taking it to new heights.
Some people bring ironing boards with them to remote locations, while others iron while skydiving. Similarly, the sport has been held in a canoe, on a mountainside, on top of a massive bronze statue, underwater, and so on.
According to the Extreme Ironing Bureau, the sport is “one of the most recent dangerous sports that combines the thrills of extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.”
4. Bossaball
Bossaball ranks fourth on our list of the weirdest sports. Although the game’s origins can be traced back to Spain, Filip Eyckmans of Belgium conceptualized it in 2005.
The game features two teams and combines volleyball, football, and gymnastics with music. The game is played on a trampoline court with two trampolines on either side of the net.
The trampoline is only occupied by the attacker. A player from the opposing team serves the ball, and the opposing team must return it over the net until it lands in a scoring zone.
It is important to note that no more than five touches are permitted. The trampoline allows the player to jump higher, allowing them to spike the ball over the net and score direct points.
The sport looks like a lot of fun. Furthermore, it is played on an inflated court trampoline on the beach. What more could one want in terms of ultimate pleasure?
3. Wife Transporting
Okay, so you’ve probably heard of the sport known as Wife Carrying. It is one of the strangest and most entertaining sports in the world. Every year, Finland hosts a sports competition.
The origin story of the sport has several versions, but the game originated in Finland as Eukonakanto. In the competition, the male competitors race while carrying their female teammates on their backs.
The competitor must overcome various obstacles to reach the finish line. Originally, the race course was rough, rocky terrain with fences. The path has shifted over time.
Similarly, there are various carrying practices during the race. There are three options: piggyback, over-the-shoulder (fireman’s carry), and Estonian-style (upside down).
Finland has hosted the Wife Carrying World Championships on an annual basis since 1992. What is the prize, you may wonder? It’s worth her weight in beer!
2. Buzkashi
Buzkashi comes in second place on our list of the top weirdest sports. The game is a traditional Central Asian sport that is mostly played in Afghanistan. Buzkashi is a Pashton or Persian word that means “goat dragging.”
The sport has a long history, dating back to the 10th and 15th centuries in China and Mongolia. The game is now more of a relic from the past.
Although the sport originated in Central Asia, it has spread to Western countries such as Turkey and even the United States.
The sport isn’t exactly what you’d call social. Players mount their horses and attempt to pick up the goat carcass. The game can last several days, and the winners receive a variety of prizes.
The sport can become very physical during the game. Riders can collide with their opponents, and accidents are common in the sport.
The rules of the game differ from one country to the next. Buzkashi is one of the world’s strangest sports.
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1. Rolling Cheese
And the title of weirdest sport goes to Cheese Rolling. It is one of the strangest sports played in Gloucestershire, England. The first written record of cheese rolling dates from 1826.
While the origin stories vary, the sporting event was traditionally held in the nearby village of Brockworth.
After the Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down the hill, participants race down the 200-yard-long hill after the cheese. Whoever reaches the bottom finish line first wins.
Although the sport appears to be enjoyable, many participants are injured during the event each year. The slope is extremely steep and uneven. As a result, some participants may fall and injure themselves.
The spectators are kept entertained by the sport. The event has also been described as “world-famous” by The Guardian. Furthermore, due to the popularity of the sport, there are many participants from all over the world.
Winners have come from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Nepal, among other places. England may have invented many sports such as soccer, cricket, and so on, but Cheese Rolling is one of the strongest.
Conclusion
Every country has its own set of traditional sports. While it may appear strange and strange to us outsiders, it is part of the country’s and its people’s heritage and tradition.
They may be odd, but that is also why they are more appealing. So, which sport do you think is the oddest?
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