Goa

Goa (???? in Devan?gar?) is India's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. It is located on the west coast of India, in the region known as the Konkan, and is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the east and south. The Arabian Sea makes up the state's west coast. Panaji is the state's capital, and Vasco-da-Gama (Vasco) its largest town. Portuguese merchants first landed in Goa in the 16th century but soon after colonised it. The Portuguese colony existed for about 450 years, until it was annexed as part of India in 1961.

Sports

Football is widely popular in Goa, particularly around Margao where the main football stadium, at the Fatorda locality is based. Football is also played in local fields, during the non-monsoon, non-planting season, particular in central coastal Goa. Many of the country's top NFL clubs such as the Vasco, Salgaokar, Dempo, Sporting Clube de Goa and Churchill Brothers are based in Goa.

Related Topics:
NFL - Vasco - Salgaokar - Dempo - Sporting Clube de Goa - Churchill Brothers

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In recent decades, a growing influence of cricket is visible, in large part fuelled by the massive coverage this sport gets on national television, thus making an impact even in a part of South Asia which hardly had any contact with the British Empire.

Related Topics:
Cricket - British Empire

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The state's sole stadium is the Fatorda stadium, located near Margaon. The stadium hosts both international football as well as cricket matches. Hockey is the third most popular sport. Goa used to be a traditional bastion of hockey talent, though in recent times its popularity has been decreasing.

Related Topics:
Fatorda stadium - Cricket - Hockey

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