Which of the following is officially recognised as the national game of Pakistan?

Introduction / Context:
Many countries have sports that are considered their national games, either through official recognition or strong tradition. For Pakistan, questions often test whether candidates know which sport holds this status. Although cricket is extremely popular in Pakistan, the sport recognised as the national game is different. This question asks you to choose the correct national game of Pakistan from the given options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The country in question is Pakistan.
• We are asked to identify its national game.
• The options are cricket, kabaddi, archery, and hockey.
• We assume standard general knowledge sources that list national sports.

Concept / Approach:
Field hockey is widely recognised as the national game of Pakistan. Pakistan has a rich history in hockey, including multiple Olympic and World Cup titles. While cricket is the most popular spectator sport today, and kabaddi has traditional roots in the region, the national game status in exam oriented GK tables is attributed to hockey. Archery does not hold this position in Pakistan. The correct approach is to separate popularity from national sport recognition and choose hockey as the national game.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider how national games are usually identified for South Asian countries, where hockey and kabaddi have strong historical importance. Step 2: Recall that Pakistan has achieved major success in international men field hockey, including Olympic gold and multiple World Cup victories. Step 3: Recognise that many exam books list hockey as the national game of Pakistan, in line with its historical dominance in this sport. Step 4: Compare this with cricket, which, while highly popular, is not usually given the label of national game in traditional GK references for Pakistan. Step 5: Note that kabaddi and archery do not correspond to the widely accepted national game label for Pakistan. Step 6: Conclude that hockey is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think about lists that pair countries with their national games. These lists often show India and Pakistan connected with hockey as their traditional national games. Pakistan past achievements in hockey, especially in the mid twentieth century, gave the sport a special status. In contrast, even though cricket has produced national heroes and world champions, it is described as the most popular sport rather than the officially recognised national game. Kabaddi is usually listed as the national game of some other regions, not Pakistan. This pattern confirms that hockey is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Cricket: It is extremely popular in Pakistan and important culturally, but in traditional general knowledge it is not labelled as the national game.

Kabaddi: A traditional sport in South Asia, but not recognised as the national game of Pakistan in standard GK sources.

Archery: Practised in different countries, but it does not have any special national game status in Pakistan.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is to confuse popularity with national status and choose cricket because it is the most visible sport in Pakistan today. Another error is not revising national games for neighbouring countries and therefore guessing randomly. To avoid these mistakes, remember the traditional pairing: hockey as the national game of Pakistan, supported by the country historical success in international field hockey.

Final Answer:
The sport that is officially recognised and traditionally accepted as the national game of Pakistan is hockey, so hockey is the correct answer.