Everybody has a touch of peculiarity, and even in the realm of sports, there are oddities, curious facts, and astonishing moments that add an extra layer of fun. Here are 20 sports facts that might surprise you:

• Thailand recognizes kite flying as a professional sport.

• The longest tennis match occurred in 2010 at Wimbledon, with John Isner from the United States defeating Nicolas Mahut from France after 11 hours and five minutes – a match spanning three days!

• Prior to 1936, in basketball, the jump ball occurred at centre court after every made basket.
• In the original basketball rules, dribbling was prohibited. Instead, players had to throw the ball to a teammate to keep the game in motion.
• Wilt Chamberlain, a basketball legend, never fouled out of a game in his 14-year career. He remains the sole player to score 100 points in a single NBA game, with an average of 45.8 minutes per game.
• The sport of “Octopush” involves playing hockey at the bottom of a swimming pool, with players using a small stick to manoeuvre a puck.
• Even if John Stockton hadn’t played the last six seasons of his NBA career, he would still be the all-time assist leader with 15,806 assists.
• From 1994 to 2003, the championship teams in ten consecutive NBA Finals had either Steve Kerr or Robert Horry.
• The inaugural basketball game was played with a football.
• In 1990, Michael Jordan’s jersey was stolen, leading him to wear a No. 12 jersey instead of his legendary No. 23 during a game against the Orlando Magic.
• Baseball umpires are required to wear black underwear, just in case their pants split.
• Golf made history as the first sport played on the moon by Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard in 1971.
• The colours of the Olympic Rings symbolize the five continents of the world.
• The longest boxing match endured for 7 hours and 19 minutes, spanning 110 rounds in 1893.
• The fastest KO in professional boxing occurred when Mike Collins floored Pat Brownson with the first punch, and the contest was halted, without a count, just four seconds after the bell at the Golden Gloves tournament in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, in 1947.
• Research suggests that left-handed individuals excel in particular sports, particularly those involving spatial judgment and fast reactions.
• Samuel Peter, a Nigerian professional boxer, held the WBC heavyweight title in 2008 when he stopped Oleg Maskaev in six rounds. He became the first Nigerian to win a major world heavyweight title.

• Chess Prodigy, Tanitoluwa Adewumi, a Nigerian refugee in the United States, gained international attention for his chess skills. Despite facing challenges, he became a national chess champion at a young age, showcasing Nigeria’s talent in unexpected places.

• In the world of competitive eating, Takeru Kobayashi holds the record for consuming 110 hot dogs in just 10 minutes during the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
• Chess boxing is a hybrid sport that combines chess and boxing, challenging participants both mentally and physically in alternating rounds.

In the diverse and fascinating world of sports, these 20 surprising facts showcase the peculiarities that make each game unique. From the historic basketball game played with a football to the unexpected combination of chess and boxing in chess boxing, sports never fail to amaze. Whether it’s the endurance of a 110-round boxing match or the quirk of basketball players once passing instead of dribbling, these facts celebrate the extraordinary moments that add a special touch to the world of sports, proving that even in the realm of athleticism, there’s always room for the unexpected.