By Lukanyo Tshitshi
Ryan Garcia fighting Gervonta Davis at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 20, 2024. Photo: (Bello/Getty Images)
Cape Town - In the wake of global upheaval, the landscape of sports has undergone a remarkable transformation. As communities worldwide grappled with unprecedented challenges, a profound shift occurred in how people approached physical activity and recreational pursuits.
A recent research project conducted by online bowling site yourbowlinghome.com shed light on the changing preferences in the world of indoor sports.
Boxing outperformed Volleyball, martial arts and futsal to come second as the most popular indoor sport in 2024. Boxing scored a strong online presence, garnering 603,000 monthly searches and 38.21 million Instagram hashtag counts.
Basketball, a traditional stalwart that has produced outstanding athletes such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James, remains the most watched and celebrated indoor sport in 2024, with an impressive 1 million monthly searches and 45.25 million Instagram hashtag counts.
Martial arts took third place, followed by volleyball in fourth. Despite being the second sport with the lowest monthly searches in the top ten, martial arts had 15.59 million Instagram hashtag counts.
Futsal came in sixth behind table tennis, with only 10.8 million Instagram hashtags and 269, 000 monthly searches.
Responding to the findings, an indoor game expert from yourbowlinghome.com stated that indoor sports have developed greatly since the national pandemic and constantly keep changing.
“In the aftermath of the global pandemic, indoor sports have surged in popularity, serving as pillars of health and communal well-being. This shift since 2020 signals a heightened commitment to active lifestyles within secure settings.
“The core message is that the sports landscape, particularly indoor sports, is changing,” said yourbowlinghome.com's game expert.
Indoor sports' rapid growth can be attributed to their strong online presence, which is powered by social media platforms and digital engagement.
Looking ahead, indoor sports are primed for sustained development and innovation. Sports organisations and facilities have to adapt to meet the changing demands of their participants.
In a world marked by uncertainty and change, indoor sports serve as pillars of resilience and flexibility, expressing the lasting spirit of human endeavour.
Youbowling.com's extensive research and findings may be viewed here: https://yourbowlinghome.com/most-popular-indoor-sports/.
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