Sports in Thiruvananthapuram

Cricket and Football are the most popular sports in Thiruvananthapuram.[1] The Sports Hub, Trivandrum, commonly known as Greenfield Stadium is one of the largest cricket and football stadiums in India.[2] Athletics, shooting, volleyball, Aquatics and squash are the other popular sports.[3][4]

Sports Hub (Greenfield Stadium) during the India vs New Zealand T20

Cricket

Like elsewhere in India, Cricket is the most popular sport in Thiruvananthapuram.[5] The Sports Hub, Trivandrum, has a seating capacity more than 50,000.[2] In 1984 the city hosted the first international cricket match in Kerala at the University Stadium.[6] The city also hosted the first T20 International cricket match in Kerala.[7] Prominent cricketers from Thiruvananthapuram include Sanju Samson, Raiphi Gomez, Ryan Ninan, Aneil Nambiar, K. N. Ananthapadmanabhan, Rohan Prem, Udiramala Subramaniam, P. M. K. Mohandas, Bhaskar Pillai and Padmanabhan Prasanth. The Kerala Cricket Association is headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram.[8]

Football
Kids playing football in the beach. Football is a popular sport in the city.
A football match in CSN Stadium

Another popular sport in Thiruvananthapuram is Football. Thiruvananthapuram hosted the 2015 SAFF Championship at the Greenfield Stadium.[9] SBI Kerala, Titanium FC, KSEB Travancore Royals FC and Kovalam FC are the major football clubs based in Thiruvananthapuram.[10][11]

On 29 November 2018 India's First Fans owned Football club Travancore Royals FC was launched in Thiruvananthapuram.

Athletics
A view of University Stadium (Right) and CSN stadium (left)

Athletic competitions are usually held at the University Stadium, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium and Central Stadium.[12] The Trivandrum Marathon is a marathon organised by the Trivandrum runners club every year.[13] There will be two main races; a half marathon of 21 km and a full marathon of 42.19 km. A special 2 km fun run is also organised for public participation.[14] TrivandRun is another marathon conducted every January in the city.[15]

Other

Other popular sports in the city are Volleyball, Basketball, shooting and Aquatics. India national volleyball player K. J. Kapil Dev is from the city.[16] Many basketball tournaments are conducted in the city. Most of them are inter-school tournaments organised by the schools in the city.[17] Trivandrum hosted the 61st National Shooting Championship at the Vattiyoorkavu Shooting Range.[18] Surfing is also a popular sport in the beaches. Many Surfing and Stand Up Paddle tournaments organised in the city.[19] The surf competitions are usually held in Kovalam Beach and Varkala Beach.[20]

The Trivandrum Golf Club, officially known as SAI Trivandrum golf club is a nine-hole golf course in the heart of the city. Established in 1850, it is one of the oldest golf course in India. It is currently leased to the Sports Authority of India.[21]

Sporting facilities
Basketball court in Central Stadium
Badminton at TOSS Academy

The city has facilities to host most type of sports. Thiruvananthapuram was one of the main venues for the 2015 National Games of India.[22]

S.No. Centre Sports
1 The Sports Hub, Trivandrum International StadiumSports hub
2 Jimmy George Sports HubSports hub
3 LNCPE KaryavattomSports hub
4 Chandrasekharan Nair StadiumAthletics, association football
5 University StadiumAthletics, association football
6 Central StadiumAthletics, association football, multi-purpose stadium
7 Kerala Police AcademyShooting
8 Vattiyoorkavu Shooting RangeShooting
9 Thiruvananthapuram Tennis ClubTennis
10 Ramanathan Krishnan Tennis ComplexTennis
11 Pirappancode Aquatics ComplexAquatics
12 Shankumugham BeachBeach handball
13 Thiruvananthapuram Golf ClubGolf
14 CSN Squash CourtSquash
15 Sreepadam StadiumKho Kho, Kabadi
16 Thankamma StadiumAssociation football
17 LNCPE Velodrome and Indoor StadiumCycling, wushu
18 St.Xaviers Cricket Ground, ThumbaCricket
19 Agricultural College Indoor StadiumSports hub, taekwondo, netball
20 Toss AcademyShuttle badminton

References
  1. UR, Arya (30 October 2017). "Fans in a tizzy with just a week left for capital city's first T20I!". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  2. "Greenfield Stadium Touching New Heights". The New Indian Express. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  3. Chandran, M. R. Praveen (10 December 2017). "India's top shooters to contest National Shooting C'ships". Sport Star Live. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  4. "Summer sports coaching at LNCPE". The Hindu. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  5. "Top 10 Most Popular Sports In India". Sporteology. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  6. K, Krishnachand (6 November 2017). "Thiruvananthapuram all set for T20 international cricket match". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  7. "TVPM to host India-NZ T20 on November 7". Malayala Manorama. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  8. "Contact us". Kerala Cricket Association. KCA. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  9. Mohanarangan, Vinayakk (3 January 2016). "SAFF Cup final, as it happened: Chhetri the match-winner as India reclaim title from Afghans". Firstpost. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  10. Chandran, M.R. Praveen (29 March 2016). "Titanium football club to turn professional; plans to establish fan club". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  11. Chandran, M.R. Praveen (11 February 2018). "Back in the game: Kerala Blasters and the second football revolution in Kerala". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  12. "University Stadium". National Games Kerala 2015. 35th National Games - Kerala 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  13. V N, Aswin (8 December 2017). "First-ever midnight marathon in Kerala". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  14. "Trivandrum Marathon on December 9 midnight". The Times of India. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  15. "Run to raise funds for cancer treatment". The Times of India. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  16. Pookkat, Sarath. "Rafi, Kapil do their namesakes proud". The Times of India ePaper. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  17. "Kazhakootam Sainik School wins basketball tournament". The Times of India. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  18. "Information of NSF". The National Rifle Association of India. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  19. "National surfing contest begins at Kovalam". The Hindu Businessline. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  20. "Kovalam Surf Club: No school, no surfing". Kovalam Surf Club. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  21. "History". SAI Trivandrum Golf Club. Sports Authority of India. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  22. "Venues". 2015 National Games of India. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
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