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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
[[File:M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Challenger Trophy 2006.jpg|thumb|right|Cricket match between India Blue and India Red at the M. A. Chidambaram Cricket Stadium, Chennai, India.]]
[[Cricket]] is the most popular '''sport in [[Chennai]]'''. The [[M. A. Chidambaram Stadium]] is one of the oldest cricket stadiums in India and has been the venue for many notable milestones in the history of Indian cricket. [[Tennis]], [[field hockey]], [[association football|football]] and [[formula racing]] and [[Squash (sport)|squash]] are the other popular sports. The city hosts an ATP tennis event, the [[Chennai Open]]. Chennai has a rich legacy in chess and has produced many well-known chess players, the most notable of them being [[Viswanathan Anand]], the former multiple [[World Chess Championship|World Chess Champion]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.lifeinchennai.com/chennai_Sports.htm
|title=Chennai Sports
|publisher=lifeinchennai.com
|access-date=2009-07-27}}</ref>

==Cricket==
[[File:IPL T20 Chennai vs Kolkata.JPG|thumb|right|An [[Indian Premier League|IPL]] match in progress at M.A. Chidambaram Cricket Stadium]]
Cricket is the most popular sport in Chennai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sporteology.com/top-10-most-popular-sports-in-india/ |title=Top 10 Most Popular Sports in India |publisher=Sporteology.com |access-date=2013-10-16 |archive-date=22 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622111511/https://sporteology.com/top-10-most-popular-sports-in-india/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[M. A. Chidambaram Stadium]] (formerly known as Madras Cricket Club ground or Chepauk Stadium) in [[Chepauk]] and popularly called the MAC, is one of the oldest cricket stadiums in India built in 1916. It seats more than 50,000 and is home to the [[Tamil Nadu Cricket Association]] and the [[Chennai Super Kings]] IPL franchise. The stadium is famous for its list of records, including the first ever test match victory that [[India]] recorded in 1951–52 when they defeated England, the second of only two [[tied test]]s between India and Australia in 1986 and Saeed Anwar's 194 in 1999 which is the third highest ODI score by a batsman.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/ground/58008.html
| title = MA Chidambaram stadium
| publisher = Cricinfo.com
| access-date = 2007-09-13}}The [[Chemplast Cricket Ground]] in the [[IIT Madras]] campus and SSN cricket ground are other important cricket venues, which hosts first class matches.</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/ground/58005.html
| title = IIT-Chemplast stadium
| publisher = Cricinfo.com
| access-date = 2007-09-13}}</ref> Prominent cricketers from Chennai include former Test-captains [[Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan|S. Venkataraghavan]] and [[Kris Srikkanth|Kris Srikkanth]], [[Laxman Sivaramakrishnan]], [[Sadagoppan Ramesh]], [[Murali Karthik]], [[Lakshmipathy Balaji]], [[Murali Vijay]], [[Ravichandran Ashwin]], [[Dinesh Karthik]], Vijay Shankar and [[Washington Sundar]] . Cricket administrators from Chennai include former [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]] presidents [[M. A. Chidambaram]] and [[A. C. Muthiah]]. The internationally renowned cricket bowling academy, the [[MRF Pace Foundation]] under the directorship of famous fast bowler [[Glenn McGrath]] is based in Chennai. [[Chennai Super Kings]], a franchise based in [[Chennai]] is the most successful team in the [[Indian Premier League]]. It is also home to [[Chepauk Super Gillies]], a popular [[Tamil Nadu Premier League]] franchise.

==Tennis==
[[File:Nungambakkam SDAT Tennis Stadium floodlit match panorama.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] [[Chennai Open]] - Centre Court at the SDAT Tennis Stadium complex in Nungambakkam]]
[[Tennis]] is another popular game in Chennai. The city hosted the country's only [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] event, the now defunct [[Chennai Open]], from 1996 to 2017 at the [[SDAT Tennis Stadium]] in [[Nungambakkam]]. The stadium seats about 6,000 spectators and has five synthetic surface courts. The tournament was awarded the title of the best new event in its second year by the [[Association of Tennis Professionals]]. Indian tennis stars such as [[Ramanathan Krishnan]], [[Vijay Amritraj]], [[Ramesh Krishnan]] and [[Mahesh Bhupathi]] hail from Chennai.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.chennaiopen.org
| title = About the venue
| publisher = [[International Management Group]]
| access-date = 2007-09-13}}</ref> [[Leander Paes]] did his schooling and was trained in Chennai. One of India's top tennis training academies, the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy is based in Chennai.

==Basketball==
Chennai is home to [[Chennai Slam]],<ref>[http://www.indiansportsnews.com/other-sports/basketball-news/38988-uba-pro-basketball-league-delhi-capitals-chennai-slam-set-up-final-clash UBA Pro Basketball League: Delhi Capitals, Chennai Slam set up final clash] Indian Sports News, 31 March 2016. Accessed 5 May 2017.</ref> two-time national champion of India's top professional basketball division, the [[UBA Pro Basketball League]].

==Hockey==
The [[Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium]], with a seating capacity of 4000, is the venue for [[field hockey|hockey]] matches in the city. The stadium has twice hosted the Champions Trophy, featuring the top six teams in the world, in 1996 and 2005.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/20/stories/2004102004161800.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041030191509/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/20/stories/2004102004161800.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 2004-10-30
| title = Radhakrishnan stadium to have new turf
| access-date = 2007-09-13
| location=Chennai, India
| work = [[The Hindu]]
| date=2004-10-20}}</ref> Chennai is home to the [[World Series Hockey]] team [[Chennai Cheetahs]] since 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/worldserieshockey/team-profile/chennaicheetahs|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126083742/http://www.indianexpress.com/worldserieshockey/team-profile/chennaicheetahs|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-26|title=Chennai Cheetahs}}</ref> It was also the home of the defunct [[Premiere Hockey League]] team [[Chennai Veerans]]. Notable international players include [[Vasudevan Baskaran]], [[Krishnamurthy Perumal]], [[M. J. Gopalan]] and [[Mohammed Riaz]].

==Squash==
The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) is headquartered in Chennai. It has more than 20 State Associations and affiliated units. [[Dipika Pallikal]], India's top ranked women's squash player hails from Chennai.

==Racing==
===Motorsports===
[[File:Formula Rolons Podium Position 2009.JPG|thumb|[[Formula Rolon]]s at [[Madras Motor Race Track|MMSC race track]]]]
[[File:Petronas, AARC 2011, MMRC, Chennai.JPG|thumb|AARC Championship racing]]
Chennai has a long-standing and thriving [[motorsport]] culture. [[Irungattukottai Race Track|Madras Motor Racing Track, Chennai]] was one of only two permanent race ways in [[India]] along with [[Kari Motor Speedway]], [[Coimbatore]] before the construction of [[Buddh International Circuit]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Memories of Madras: From Sholavaram to Irungattukottai|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/memories-of-madras-from-sholavaram-to-irungattukottai/article2528390.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=11 October 2011|location=India}}</ref> [[Madras Rubber Factory]] based out of Chennai built is first [[Formula 3]] car in 1997.<ref name="MRF Racing">{{cite web|url=http://www.mrftyres.com/mrf-sports|title = MRF Sports}}</ref> MRF in collaboration with [[Maruti Suzuki|Maruti]] established the [[Formula Maruti]] racing, a single-seater, open wheel class motorsport racing event for race cars made in India.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite web| url = http://profit.ndtv.com/stock/mrf-ltd_mrf/reports | title = MRF Limited | publisher = NDTV | date=14 February 2015}}</ref> [[MRF Challenge]] is a [[F2000 Championship Series|Formula 2000]] open-wheel motorsport formula based series organized by [[Madras Motor Sports Club]] in association with MRF. [[Narain Karthikeyan]] and [[Karun Chandhok]], the only drivers from to represent India in [[Formula 1]] were born in Chennai. [[Motor racing]] events are held at the [[Sriperumbudur]] track for cars and the [[Sholavaram]] track for motorcycles. Races of the FISSME class, 1300 CC class and 1600 CC class are held regularly in Irungattukottai.

===Horse racing===
The [[Guindy Race Course]] for [[horse racing]] was set up in 1777.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.iroa.com/history.htm
| title = Racing in India
| publisher = International Racehorse Owners Association
| access-date = 2007-09-13}}</ref> The city also has a pigeon-racing culture that started in the 1970s and now has 11 clubs and 400 racing enthusiasts.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Frederick
| first = Prince
| title = The new pigeon-racing capital
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 14 October 2012
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/leisure/the-new-pigeonracing-capital/article3994392.ece
| access-date = 14 Oct 2012}}</ref>

==Football==
Football is a popular sport in schools. Football matches are played at [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]] in [[Chennai]]. The [[Indian Super League]] team [[Chennaiyin FC]] and [[I-League]] club [[Chennai City FC]] are based in [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sudarshan|first1=N.|title=Chennaiyin Football gets Italian seasoning|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennaiyin-football-gets-italian-seasoning/article6436620.ece|access-date=30 November 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=5 October 2014}}</ref>

On the 5th of February 2019, it was reported in both the Swiss and Indian newspapers that Chennai City FC (CCFC) are all set to sell 35 per cent of the club's stake to Swiss club [[FC Basel]]. The Swiss Champions League regulars will also invest 20m euros in CCFC. FC Basel will also have a player exchange program, including first team players, with CCFC and help the club with technical know how.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/federers-home-club-basel-to-invest-20m-euros-in-ccfc/articleshow/67845353.cms|title=Federer's home club Basel to invest 20m euros in CCFC - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.watson.ch/!410416603|title=Der FCB und sein Bollywood-Farmteam – Basel steigt bei Chennai City ein|website=watson.ch|language=de|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>

==Athletics and aquatics==
[[File:Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Chennai panorama.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]]]
[[Sports|Athletic]] competitions are held at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]], which seats 40,000. The complex also houses a multipurpose indoor stadium with a [[seating capacity]] of 8,000 which hosts various competitions including [[volleyball]], [[basketball]] and [[table tennis]]. The Velachery Aquatic Complex seats 4,000 and hosts various water sports. Chennai was the venue of the [[South Asian Games|SAF Games]] in 1995.

==Chess==
Chess is a popular board game in the city. [[Viswanathan Anand]], the current World Rapid Chess champion and former multiple [[World Chess Championship|World Chess Champion]], hails from Chennai. [[Krishnan Sasikiran]], [[Manuel Aaron]] and [[Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi|S. Vijayalakshmi]] are other chess players of repute from the city.

==Other==
Chennai is home to popular [[Table tennis]] players [[Sharath Kamal]] and Subramanian Raman, both gold medalists at the [[Commonwealth Games]] and winners of the [[Arjuna award#Arjuna Awardees in Table Tennis|Arjuna award]]. The Chennai [[Sepak Takraw League]] is a major attraction in Chennai for the sport of [[Sepak Takraw]], players from [[Tamil Nadu]] participate in four teams in this league. The Tamil Nadu men's team is one of the leading teams in India and many players from Tamil Nadu have represented India.

Chennai is home to a [[rugby union]] team called the Chennai Cheetahs and was founded in 1997 by four software professionals. It was All India Champion in 2004 and 2006 and also won the All India sevens in 2005 and the South India ten in 2007. India's only [[Arjuna award#Arjuna Awardees in Carrom|Arjuna awardee]] for [[Carrom]] and two-time world champion, [[Maria Irudayam]] and the present women's world champion Ilavazhagi are natives of Chennai.<ref>[http://www.thaindian.com/news-snippet/ilavazhagi-a-chennai-girl-is-world-carrom-champion-4646.html Ilavazhagi, a Chennai girl is World carrom champion]</ref> There is also a growing enthusiasm in [[Parkour]] & Freerunning which is fueled by the "Chennai Parkour" and "Parkour Circle" groups. The [[Madras Boat Club]], founded in 1867, hosts rowing competitions.

The city has two 18-hole [[golf]] courses: the [[Cosmopolitan Club (Chennai)|Cosmopolitan Club]] and the [[Gymkhana Club, Chennai|Gymkhana Club]] golf course, both of which were established in the late 19th century. Private golf courses include the proposed one at Hirco Palace Gardens at Oragadam, a western suburb of Chennai, which features an architectural canopy to protect the golfers from sun and rain and a combination of Par 3,4 and 5 holes each with its unique combination of bunker, water and vegetation hazards. The 50-acre course stretches out to over 2,500 meters (an 18-hole equivalent of 5000 meters/5500 yards).<ref>{{cite news
| title = Take a swing at Hirco Palace Gardens golf range
| newspaper = The Business Line
| location = Chennai
| publisher = The Hindu
| date = 12 October 2012
| url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/real-estate/article3991567.ece
| access-date = 12 Oct 2012}}</ref> Chennai was the venue for the first [[Commonwealth Junior Fencing Championships]] held in 2006.

==Teams==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Club !! Sport !! League !! Home Stadium !! Span
|-
|[[Chennai Superstarz]]
|[[Badminton]]
|[[Premier Badminton League]]
|[[Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium]]
| 2015–present
|-
|[[Chennai Superstars]]
|[[Cricket]]
|[[Indian Cricket League]]
|[[M.A. Chidambaram Stadium]]
| 2007–2009
|-
|[[Chennai Super Kings]]
|[[Cricket]]
|[[Indian Premier League]]
|[[M.A. Chidambaram Stadium]]
| 2008–2015,2018–present
|-
|[[Chepauk Super Gillies]]
|[[Cricket]]
|[[Tamil Nadu Premier League]]
|[[M.A. Chidambaram Stadium]]
|2016–present
|-
|Chennai Strikers<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/chennai-strikers-hyderabad-hustlers-win-in-indian-cue-masters-league/story-PWkkQ1ZPZOkRO6zlFzByqJ.html|title=Chennai Strikers, Hyderabad Hustlers win in Indian Cue Masters League|date=2017-08-20|work=hindustantimes|access-date=2017-08-26|language=en}}</ref>
|[[Cue Sports]]
|Indian Cue Masters League
|N/A
|2017
|-
| [[Chennai Cheetahs]]
| [[Field hockey]]
| [[World Series Hockey]]
| [[Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium]]
| 2011–2012
|-
|[[Chennai Veerans]]
|[[Field hockey]]
|[[Premier Hockey League]]
|[[Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium]]
| 2005–2008
|-
| [[Chennai City F.C.]]
| [[Association football|Football]]
| [[I-league]]
| [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Chennai)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| 2016–present
|-
| [[Chennaiyin FC]]
| [[Association football|Football]]
| [[Indian Super League]]
| [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Chennai)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| 2013–present
|-
|[[Tamil Thalaivas]]
|[[Kabaddi]]
|[[Pro Kabaddi]]
|[[Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium]]
| 2017–present
|-
| [[V Chennai Warriors]]
| [[Tennis]]
| [[Champions Tennis League]]
| [[SDAT Tennis Stadium]]
| 2015
|-
|[[Chennai Lions]]
|[[Table tennis]]
|[[Ultimate Table Tennis]]
|[[Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium]]
|2019–present
|-
|[[Chennai Spikers]]
|[[Volleyball]]
|[[Indian Volley League]]
|[[Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium]]
| 2011–2012
|-
|[[Chennai Spartans]]
|[[Volleyball]]
|[[Pro Volleyball League]]
|[[Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium]]
|2019–present
|-
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sportsinfotn.com/ Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority]
* [http://cstl.wordpress.com/ Chennai Sepak Takraw League Official Website]
* [http://chennaiparkour.org/ Chennai Parkour Official Website]

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Tamil Nadu Sports}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sport In Chennai}}
[[Category:Sport in Chennai| ]]

Sport in Chennai - Revision history

CleanupBot: Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

Mohammadzaidmansoori: Expanded article with relevant info

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link; reformat 2 links. Wayback Medic 2.5