It's all about enjoying the sport!

Image: Italian soccer goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon enjoys a passing shower
Photographs: Reuters

The monsoon has suddenly revived in recent days, giving India much respite from the heat. Bikash Mohaptra picks his favourite games to be played on a rainy day.

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for bed
Nothin' seems to fit
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

Words from that immortal Academy Award-winning song from the 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a number that perfectly describes the mood of a sportsman who enjoys his sport even when the heavens have opened.

Some years ago, I remember having seen a rather perfect image for those lyrics.

A picture with Swedish tennis pro Anders Jarryd looking up at the sky with a smile during a match, as raindrops fell on his head. A picture that urged you to enjoy your sport without worrying much about the rain.

Playing an outdoor sport is arguably the best way to enjoy a wet day.

Don't believe us?

Take a look.

Football: The best option

Image: Dutch soccer stars train under heavy rain in Shanghai
Photographs: Reuters

Undoubtedly, the best sporting option this wet season.

Get a tad nostalgic about your student days and you will remember how playing football was so much fun.

The goal post was probably two bricks on either side or maybe a pair of shoes, owned by the guy playing goalie.

The thrill was to get the ball -- in those soggy conditions which made passing so difficult -- into goal.

Scoring a goal felt like winning the World Cup.

Remember that?

Rugby: Pin your opponent to the ground

Image: Boys play rugby on a flooded pitch in Sydney
Photographs: Reuters

Remember a drenched Shah Rukh Khan, with a rugby ball in hand, desperately making an attempt to escape his opponents and succeeding in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge.

Or Akshay Kumar, with absolutely no knowledge of rugby, helping a bunch of hapless old men beat a group of Englishmen in Namastey London.

Bollywood's connection to rugby isn't just confined to reel-life.

Actor Rahul Bose, an active member of the national team, is often seen playing rugby at the Bombay Gymkhana in south Mumbai.

The physical nature of rugby makes it an exciting and dangerous option in the rain.

Imagine a scrum of players pinning down their opponent on a muddy ground and you could feel like doing the same.

Cricket is good time pass

Image: Michael Clarke and Harbhajan Singh walk off the field after rain ended play, Brisbane, February 2008
Photographs: Reuters

It is fun to play cricket in a downpour.

Mumbai's Kanga League is the world's only monsoon cricket tournament, but struggles to complete its quota of matches almost every year.

Many games are washed out and in the worst case scenario, the tournament's result is decided not by a player or team's statistics, but by simple arithmetic.

If there are no stakes involved and it is just played to have a good time, there are few substitutes to cricket in the monsoon.

So what are you waiting for?

The golfing greens guarantee fun

Image: Even a Tiger needs rain pants!
Photographs: Reuters

It is difficult of course, but golf in the rain guarantees its share of fun.

If it pours while you are playing, the greens ensure a series of tough challenges.

On the one hand the rain may nullify the leading player's advantage; on the other it may well work to your advantage.

Even the greatest player in the universe, seen here preparing for a game in the rain, can have a rough joust with the elements.

Fun on the run

Image: Elisa Rigaudo finishes third, ahead of Liu Hong, in the women's 20km walk at the Beijing Olympics
Photographs: Reuters

Run to have fun in the rain.

It is not about the speed or timing (the rain makes it difficult to generate both).

It is just about just running hard on the wet track and crossing the finish line.

For those keen on adventure

Image: Formula One cars during the British F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone
Photographs: Reuters

It is almost impossible to explain the thrill motorsports offers in the monsoon.

Driving on wet roads and in rugged terrain poses unknown challenges and quantum leaps in the excitement quotient.

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