Petanque originated in France and was brought to Pondicherry by the French soldiers during and after the Second World War.

The Sport & its History

A Coloured Jack, some White Iron Boules and a Wooden Circle of 30 cm diametre. That is all needed for a game of Petanque.

In 1907, Jules Lenoir introduced Petanque at his homeland in Provence. France. Lenoir was a ‘Jeu Provencal’ (a Boule game) player in which he had to roll the Boules or ran three steps before throwing a boule. But in his later years, when he got affected by arthritis, he modified jeu peovencal into Petanque which he could play by just standing.

It is a sport in which the players stand inside the wooden circle and throw the boules as close to the Jack. The Jack is the target that is set at the beginning of the game. 

Petanque traveled from France to India

It is always said that sport has no boundaries. Therefore Petanque from France travelled worldwide and in the midst settled in the small French colony of Pondicherry in India.

The first Petanque club of Pondicherry, Cercle Sportif Pondicerien, was founded in 1960 by a French soldier Rezhar. As told by Dhanasekar, the President of Cercle Sportif Pondicerien, “Those who have participated in the First World War and Second World War on behalf of the French army, after retirement came back to Pondicherry and they became member of Cercle Sportif Pondicherian.”

Though Pondicherry has been rechristened as Puducherry to reflect its original Tamil name, but this small Union Territory could not disassociate from its French connect. 

The charming White Town exists with its French eateries, colonial streets and crafted shops. Along with that Petanque exists in its full form.

Role of the New Petanque Association -Puducherry

Petanque in Puducherry is not merely a pastime; it is a serious sport. Pondicherry Petanque Association was formally started in 1991 to spread the game further. In 2011 it got registration under the name of New Petanque Association- Puducherry (NPAP).

Presently, there are 45 clubs under the association with more than 2000 registered players. The association organises almost 20 tournaments throughout the year. There is also an annual tournament organised by the French Council as part of the Bastille Day celebration. 

Apart from senior, junior, veteran and woman category, NPAP also included transplant patients in their special category. K Ganesh Karthikeyan, Joint Secretary of New Petanque Association- Puducherry said, “Especially this game is a boon for transplant patients. The transplant players try to save themselves from injuries. And this game is 100% non-injury game.”

The only challenge faced by NPAP now is the non-availability of the equipment. As per Viswa Ganapathy, IT Head of New Petanque Association-Puducherry, “We directly import the equipment from France and then play this game in India. There is one set of boules and three boules available in one set. The cost of one set is 8000/–9000/- based on the quality.”

The sport continues to exist

Challenges are there but those cannot stop the Puducherrians from playing this game. It is a part of their local culture; it is a part of their lives. The French legacy of Petanque is kept alive by the Indians of Puducherry.