It goes without saying that many sports out there are more popular than others. After all, disciplines like football and basketball attract millions of loyal fans and generate staggering sums of money. However, there are many other sports out there that deserve more attention.
In fact, there are quite a few niche sports out there that you might be keen on looking into. It is definitely worth it! The betting experts at BettingApps say that going for sports that are not that popular can increase your chances of winning sports bets.
Does that sound appeal to you? If your answer is yes, then you are in the right place! In this article, you will find a list of the best niche sports to watch this year, ranging from futsal to rugby and sailing. Check it out!
Futsal
Futsal is one of the most underrated and overlooked sports out there. The truth is that it deserves a lot more attention than it gets. It is an indoor sport that is similar in many ways to soccer, although there are some significant differences between these two sports.
If you are looking for a new sport to bet on, then you should definitely check out futsal. It is a fast-paced and exciting sport where the teams have just five players on the pitch. Futsal is a quite popular sport in South America and Europe, but not so much anywhere else. The World Cup for Futsal has been held since 1989, with Brazil winning the competition six times.
Curling
Curling is thought to be one of the most entertaining winter sports. It is a great alternative to skiing, as it does not require weird equipment and is way cheaper. The main goal is to slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a circular target. The team with the most points wins!
Track Cycling
Track cycling is one of the most underrated disciplines. The races are held on velodromes, which are similar to indoor tracks. However, unlike the latter, they have steep curves. The races are exciting and fast-paced, and it is hard to predict who will emerge victoriously!
Road Cycling
Road cycling is a niche sport that deserves attention. It is incredibly popular among cyclists who just love riding on public roads. The courses tend to be up to sixty miles long, which is what makes for a very intense and unpredictable experience.
Cricket
It is a game that is played with a bat and a ball by two teams of eleven players each. The sport is incredibly popular in many countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
Darts
Darts is a sport that definitely deserves your attention. It is a competitive sport in which players throw sharp-pointed missiles known as darts at a dartboard. The player with the highest score wins.
Handball
Handball is a sport with a large following in Europe and Asia. It requires both mental focus and physical endurance, as it involves more jumping and diving than other sports. The goal is to throw or kick the ball into the net of the rival team.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is a sport that is very popular in Canada. The game is played on an ice rink. Players wear skates and protective equipment. On top of that, they handle a stick with a curved blade, which they use to propel a rubber disk into the goal of the opposing team.
Field Hockey
Field hockey is one of the most popular sports in countries such as India and Australia. It is played on grass pitches with teams that consist of twelve players each. The objective is to score goals by using a curved stick to move a hard ball into the goal area of the rival team.
Polo
Polo originated in Asia thousands of years ago. It was brought to Europe by Persian traders who traveled around the continent. In short, it is a horseback mounted team sport played by two opposing teams that consist of four mounted players each.
Rugby League
The popularity of the rugby league has been growing steadily over the past few years. In fact, many experts say that rugby league will become more popular than rugby union in the near future. This may seem hard to believe, but it is true.
Rugby league is played on a rectangular pitch with 13 players per team. There are two halves in a rugby match (each lasting 40 minutes), with the teams trying to score as many tries as possible. There can be up to 15 players (including replacements) on the pitch during a match, which means that every player must take part in every game.
A try is awarded when a player touches the ball down in the opposition’s in-goal area, while a conversion is used to add extra points to a try. When the player scores a try, they are required to kick the ball over the crossbar and between the posts for 2 points. However, if they kick the ball through the posts for 4 points, then it is called a goal kick.
There are numerous competitions that can be watched such as Super League and NRL, with each season running from February until October. The best thing about rugby league? It can be watched all over the world!
Sailing
Sailing is a great sport. It requires a lot of technical knowledge, which is why it is considered a rather niche sport. However, it is a relatively cheap one. There are lots of different types of sailing events that you can watch, such as ocean racing and yacht racing.
In Conclusion
In the modern world of technology and globalization, you will find many sports that you never knew existed. From curling to field hockey, they deserve attention from avid sports fans from many countries around the world!
We hope that our article has piqued your interest in them. If so, go out and watch some live games or tournaments next time you have the chance. It is definitely going to be an exciting and worthwhile experience!
