Everyone, at some point in their lives, has participated in at least one sporting activity, and many people pursue sports as a serious hobby or watch them for enjoyment. Because of this, sports often have rather a sizable fan following, and there are frequent discussions on which sports are the most popular around the globe.
But here in this list of the top 10 least popular sports in the globe, we take a look at the underappreciated games that may be anything from humorous to just plain strange.
Ranking of the Sports with the Fewest Participants Around the World in 2022:
10. Archery
Archery comes up at number 10 on the list of the sports that are practiced throughout the globe the least. Today, archery does not have the same appeal as it had in medieval times.
It has fallen behind other shooting games in popularity. During the medieval era, archery was a significant sporting event, and those who were skilled at it frequently achieved great renown and success. Here you can see Top 10 Greatest Archers.
Although it is an Olympic sport, archery only has a small number of dedicated followers. Despite the fact that it maintains a certain level of popularity.
9. Kabaddi
Globally, Kabaddi ranks eighth among the most rarely played sports. Indians originally played Kabaddi in a number of different variations.
These variations include Sanjeevani, Amar, and Gaming. Despite the fact that Kabaddi is relatively unknown outside of India. It is one of the country’s most well-liked sports and is practiced by children.
Additionally, it is well-liked in Bangladesh. Despite this, it is still considered to have a low level of popularity, despite the fact that it has its own World Cup. On the other hand, there isn’t much of a fuss made over it.
8. Fencing
The sport of fencing comes in at number nine on the list of the world’s least popular sports. Even though fencing is considered to be one of the most sophisticated contact sports. It is still not given the same amount of attention as its other close relatives which also includes physical contact.
The fact that there isn’t a lot of drama going on in it means that it doesn’t really connect with the emotions of the spectator, which may be one reason why it isn’t as popular.
Nevertheless, the fact that it is now a sport that can be competed in at the Olympics has helped it gain a small but dedicated following. In addition, some of the best female fencers in the history of the sport are contributing to its current popularity.
7. Chess Boxing
The sports that came before this one on the list may still be classified as conventional sports. But from this point on, the list moves into more unusual territory, and it all begins with chess.
Chess Boxing is essentially the best of both worlds since it combines the mental challenge of playing chess with the physical challenge of boxing. In this sport, players face off in alternating rounds of chess and boxing.
It is one of the strangest games there is. Thus it is not surprising that it is one of the least popular sports in the world.
6. Unicycle Hockey
The sport of unicycle hockey comes in at number six on the list of the world’s least popular sports. The game resembles hockey, except instead of skates, participants use unicycles to propel themselves around the rink. This sport is often played on indoor courts, in gymnasiums, or on tennis courts by its participants.
Although it may seem strange. There are really four different leagues for playing unicycle hockey in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia.
5. Wife Carrying
Wife carrying comes in at number four on the list of the world’s sports that are played the least. On first consideration, it may not even seem like a legitimate sport; yet, despite the fact that it may come as a surprise, it is.
As part of this sport, the male participant must successfully navigate an obstacle course while carrying his female companion. Additionally, there are unique prizes up for grabs for the best costumes!
4. Redneck Games
The Redneck Games come in at number 5 on the list. The Redneck Games include a variety of competitions, some of which include the following: the cigarette flip, the seed spitting, the mud pit belly hop, the toilet seat tossing, and the dumpster diving. It may be hard to believe, but those things really happened!
The trophies that are given to the winners of each of these separate competitions are beer cans that have been broken in half and mounted upside down.
3. Extreme Ironing
Extreme ironing comes up at number three on the list of sports that are not widely practiced across the globe. In this bizarre extreme sport, competitors bring an ironing board, clothes, and iron into the most unsafe and inaccessible place imaginable, and then iron!
The phrase “a game that combines the pleasure of severe outdoor exercise with the joy of a well-pressed shirt” is really the company’s slogan.
2. Sheep Counting
Sheep Counting comes in at number 2 on the list. This is not a joke; this is a real sport that people participate in. As part of the competition, hundreds of sheep will run by the players. Who will then attempt to count all of them.
The objective of the game is to count the number of sheep without making a mistake because there are a large number of sheep and they all look the same. Despite the apparent ease of the game. It is not that simple because it requires a significant amount of concentration to ensure that the counting is accurate.
You can bet that the players are also bored since all they have to do is count the cards. Thus it is not very interesting for the audience to watch. And there is not much for the players to do other than count as well.
1. Ferret Legging
Ferret Legging is now ranked first on the list of sports that are played the least in the globe. The goal of the endurance competition known as “Ferret Legging” is to see who can go the longest without letting a ferret out of their trousers. The winner of the competition is the one who is the last to free the ferret.
It just so happens that coal miners in Yorkshire, England are big fans of the game. and the world record for the longest period in ferret legging is an incredible five hours and thirty minutes.
Conclusion:
Do you have any idea what other sports make up the list of the world’s least popular sporting events? If this is the case, then do let us know your thoughts in the section below.
FAQs: Least Popular Sports:
In India, football has consistently been in the top three most popular sports in terms of participation and TV viewership, alongside cricket, which has traditionally been the most popular sport, and kabaddi, which is experiencing significant growth in popularity.
Golf is by far and away the most tedious sport played in the United States. The next most boring sport, according to those who have ever seen it, is snooker, with 58 percent of viewers giving it that rating, followed by cricket (58 percent), and darts (also 58 percent) (57 percent ).
The ratings for the National Hockey League postseason, the Major League Baseball regular season and playoffs, the United States Open tennis tournament, the United States Open golf tournament, the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness, as well as college football, have all seen a dip.
11.2 percent of players in men’s ice hockey go on to play the sport at the collegiate level after graduating from high school. When compared to baseball players, women’s basketball players only have a 0.9% chance of being picked, while baseball players have an 8.6% chance of being selected.
