Sports are a major passion in Kerala, with distinct preferences compared to much of India.
* **Football (Soccer):** Football is wildly popular. The state's professional club, **Kerala Blasters FC**, competes in the Indian Super League (ISL) and boasts one of the most passionate fan bases in Asia. Sevens football (7-a-side) is a cultural phenomenon in the Malabar region. * **Athletics:** Kerala is the nursery of Indian athletics, producing legends like P.T. Usha and Anju Bobby George. * **Traditional Sports:** **Vallam Kali** (traditional snake boat racing) is a massive seasonal sport, with the **Nehru Trophy Boat Race** on Punnamada Lake being the most prestigious event. * **Stadiums:** The **Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium** in Kochi and the **Greenfield International Stadium** in Trivandrum are the state's premier sporting venues.