WARDHA

Lagori is a traditional outdoor team sport where players use a ball to break a stack of stones or wood pieces. The game is played very enthusiastically in the rural areas of the district. Nowadays children also use pieces of tiles and other such items for stacking.

Bail-gada shariyat, or bullock cart races, were once a common tradition across rural Maharashtra, including Wardha district. The races were banned in 2011, but in 2017, the State government enacted a legislation to restart the races. However, the Bombay High Court stayed the legislation, and the Supreme Court initially declined to lift the stay, referring the matter to a larger bench. In 2021, the Supreme Court upheld the State’s legislation, thereby legalizing the races once more.

Similar games are played in Tamil Nadu where it is known as ‘Jallikattu', also known as 'eruthazhuvuthal', and is played as part of the Pongal harvest festival. The Bail Gada shariyats of Maharashtra resemble the 'Kambala' race, held in Karnataka between November and March, which involves a pair of buffaloes tied to a plow and anchored by one person. They are made to run in parallel muddy tracks in a competition in which the fastest team wins.

In Wardha district, villages such as Selu and Karanja are known to organize such races. They are extremely popular and farmers enthusiastically participate in it with their bulls.

Cricket remains the most popular sport in Wardha, with numerous local tournaments held throughout the district. Several leagues and teams contribute to the region’s vibrant cricketing scene, providing a platform for aspiring players to showcase their talent.

The Wardha District Cricket Association (WDCA) League is a competitive local league featuring teams from across Wardha district. It is divided into different divisions, with teams battling for the championship title. The Wardha Premier League (WPL) is a fast-paced T20 league that brings together teams from Wardha and nearby areas. Played during the summer months, WPL adds excitement to the local cricket calendar. The Maharashtra State Cricket Association (MCA) Divisional League is a state-level tournament featuring teams from different regions of Maharashtra, including Wardha. The league is highly competitive and runs during the summer months.

Wardha has several local teams that actively participate in these tournaments. The Wardha Warriors compete in the WDCA League and other local tournaments. The Wardha Royals are a strong team participating in the WPL and other competitions. The Wardha Strikers are also active in the WDCA League and various cricketing events.

With passionate cricketers and enthusiastic fans, Wardha’s cricketing landscape continues to flourish, keeping the spirit of the game alive in the district.

Football has also grown in popularity in the district in recent years. The Wardha District Football Association currently has 67 registered players. Wardha participates in various inter-district state-level football tournaments organized by the Western India Football Association (WIFA), although the teams have yet to see significant success.

Nisha Mohota, a noted chess player who has represented India internationally, was born on 13 October 1980 in Hinganghat, Wardha. On 26 April 1995, at the age of 14 years, 6 months, and 13 days, she became the youngest Woman International Master (WIM) in India at that time. In recognition of this achievement, she received a cash award from the then Prime Minister of India, H. D. Deve Gowda, in December 1996. Her record as the youngest WIM in India stood until 1999, when it was broken by Koneru Humpy.

Nisha competed in the Women’s World Chess Championship in 2001 and 2008 and won the Women’s Indian Chess Championship in 2005. She represented India in several major tournaments, including the Women’s Chess Olympiads (2004, 2008, 2010), the Women’s World Team Chess Championship (2013), the Women’s Asian Team Chess Championships (2003, 2005, 2008, 2009), and the 2010 Asian Games.

Beyond her achievements on the board, Nisha has also spoken out on issues of gender equality in chess, notably opposing remarks made by British Grandmaster Nigel Short. She is recognized as the first Woman Grandmaster (WGM) from the state of West Bengal.

Chandrashekhar Atram, born on 1 October 1983 in Wardha, is a cricketer who played 32 first-class and 24 List A matches between 1999 and 2006. He was also a member of India’s squad for the 2002 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Jwala Gutta was born on 7 September 1983 in Wardha, and raised in Hyderabad, Telangana. She was born to a Chinese mother and a Telugu father. Her father, Kranti Gutta, came from Peddapuliveru in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district while her mother, Yelan Gutta, was born in China. Yelan first came to India in 1977 with her grandfather to visit Sevagram Ashram, where she translated Gandhi’s autobiography and other works into Chinese.

Initially interested in tennis, Jwala took up badminton at her mother’s insistence. Her father introduced her to national badminton coach S. M. Arif when she was four years old. Arif recommended she pursue gymnastics or swimming for a few years before starting badminton. Eventually, she began training under Arif at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, starting formal badminton training at the age of six. One of her early achievements was winning the Under-13 Girls Mini National Badminton Championship in Thrissur, Kerala.

In 2000, at the age of 17, Gutta won the Junior National Badminton Championship. That same year, she also won the Women’s Doubles Junior National Championship and the Senior National Badminton Championship, both alongside Shruti Kurien. The partnership lasted several years, and together they won the Women’s Doubles National title for seven consecutive years from 2002 to 2008.

A fourteen-time National Champion, Jwala later found greater international success partnering with Ashwini Ponnappa. The duo consistently ranked among the BWF World Top 20, peaking at No. 10 in 2015. Jwala became the first Indian badminton player to qualify for two events at the Olympics—women’s doubles with Ponnappa and mixed doubles with V. Diju at the London Olympics. Known for her skilled left-handed stroke play, she is also one of the few doubles players to use a forehand serve.

Gutta won numerous international medals, including a bronze at the 2011 BWF World Championships in London and a gold and silver at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, respectively, both historic achievements for India in women’s doubles. Other accomplishments include a bronze at the 2014 Thomas & Uber Cup held in New Delhi, a bronze at the Badminton Asia Championships the same year, and a finals appearance at the 2009 BWF Super Series Masters Finals with Diju—the first such achievement for India in any discipline.

Gutta is widely credited with bringing recognition to doubles badminton in India, first with Diju in mixed doubles (peaking at world No. 6 in 2010), and later with Ponnappa in women’s doubles. She also represented India with Ponnappa at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where they exited in the group stage. Despite never winning an Olympic medal, she has won medals at nearly all other major international tournaments and multi-sport events.

Outside badminton, Gutta is outspoken on issues such as fair treatment in sports, women’s empowerment, education, and gender equality. She has frequently been listed among India’s most inspiring sportswomen. She was awarded the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting honour, for her achievements. Gutta was married to badminton player Chetan Anand from 2005 to 2011. In 2017, she indicated she was considering retirement and had entered discussions for a potential coaching role with the Badminton Association of India.

Darshan Nalkande born on 4 October 1998 in Wardha is a cricket player. He made his List A debut for Vidarbha in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy on 2 October 2018. He made his first-class debut for Vidarbha in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy on 1 November 2018. In December 2018, he was bought by the Kings XI Punjab in the player auction for the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL). He made his Twenty20 debut for Vidarbha in the 2018–19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on 21 February 2019. In February 2022, he was bought by the Gujarat Titans in the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League tournament. In April 2022, he made his IPL debut against Punjab Kings.

Madhukar Sathe born 30 August 1934 in Wardha, is a former cricketer. He played cricket for Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha.

Wardha has several public sports facilities that cater to different athletic needs. The Wardha Stadium (Sahakar Sankul) is a multi-purpose stadium with a seating capacity of 5,000 spectators. The Wardha Sports Complex, located at Gandhi Chowk, provides facilities for cricket, football, hockey, and various other sports. The District Sports Office is a government-run facility that offers sports infrastructure and equipment to support different sports activities.

In addition to public facilities, several private sports academies provide specialized training. Shrikrishna Sports Academy and Yuvraj Sports Academy offer coaching for cricket, football, and other sports. The Vivekananda Kendra Sports Academy focuses on training in yoga, gymnastics, and additional disciplines. The Wardha Golf Club features a 9-hole golf course with membership and guest play options, adding to the district's diverse sports offerings.