Popular sports (basketball, tennis, polo) - Argentina

Besides the "religion" of football, Argentina has three powerful sporting pillars: basketball, tennis and polo. They give the country Olympic medals, ATP/ITF titles and world leadership, shape tourism and TV news, and create sustainable local leagues and schools.

Basketball: From League Hacional to Olympic gold

Club ecosystem. The main tournament of the country is the Liga Nacional de Básquetbol (LNB). The league was created with the participation of coach Leon Nainudel in the mid-1980s; today it is a top division with 20 teams and a regular + playoffs system, and the champion of the 2024/25 season is Boca Juniors.

National team and "Golden Generation." In 2004, the Argentine men's team sensationally took Olympic gold in Athens; the leader was Manu Hinobili (MVP of the tournament), next to Luis Scola, Andres Nosioni, Carlos Delfino and others. The history of the "golden" is recorded in detail by the Olympic Channel. In 2025, the veteran of that composition Carlos Delfino officially ended his career - the symbolic final chord of the era.

Why it matters. LNB gave a vertical of development (academies → clubs → national team), and Athens 2004 gave a cultural effect and an influx of children in the section. Regular broadcasts and club participation in the Champions League of America maintain interest between football seasons.

Tennis: Buenos Aires clay, cordova and historic wins

Major tournaments. In February 2025, the ATP tour returned to the capital: IEB + Argentina Open (ATP-250) on the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club. The tournament was won by 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca, beating Francisco Serundolo in the final; the victory was confirmed by ATP and international media. In addition, the AAT Challenger Santander Córdoba takes place in March (previously an ATP-250 tournament was held here).

National team. In 2016, Argentina won the Davis Cup for the first time in history: decisive matches - Juan Martin del Potro's comeback against Cilic and Federico Delbonis's victory over Karlovic in Zagreb.

Legends. Gabriela Sabatini is a US Open-1990 champion and one of the country's most recognizable tennis brands. Her career still inspires new generations of tennis players and tennis players.

Why it matters. The ATP calendar in the capital and Cordoba, a strong clay tennis school and status singles/greenhouses keep the view on the high media floor, and the 2016 Davis Cup is a historic anchor of attention.

Polo: World capital and 80-goal finals in Palermo

The main tournament of the planet. The Argentine Open (Palermo) is the pinnacle of world polo. In December 2024, La Natividad again beat La Dolfina Saudi (13:11) and took the third title; the final became 80-golf (two teams of 40 handicaps each) - the rarest level for the history of the tournament.

Why Argentina is No. 1. The polo has a -2 to 10 head handicap system; "dozens" are the elite of the world, and most of the current 10-goal players are Argentines (Cambiaso, Pieres, Castagnola brothers, etc.). This is a recognized fact of industry publications and associations.

Horses and innovation. Argentina is dominated not only by players but also by horse breeding; iconic polo ponies are a national pride. At the hearing - the cloning of the line of the mare Quartetera Adolfo Cambiaso (industry investigation and judicial chronicle of 2024 again became a news feed), which emphasizes the manufacturability and capitalization of sports.

Why it matters. Tourism, VIP events and high international interest turn Palermo (Buenos Aires) into a seasonal magnet; La Natividad/La Dolfina victories and "80-goal" posters are the guarantor of news coverage.

Where to watch and "enter" the topic (2025)

Basketball: LNB broadcasts and results; follow the playoffs and derby of the capital/provincial clubs.

Tennis: Argentina Open every February in Buenos Aires; by March - Cordoba Challenger. A great way to see ATP stars on the ground "at arm's length."

Polo: The finals of the Argentine Open in November-December at the Campo Argentino de Polo (Palermo) are the peak of the season and the best moment to understand why Argentina is the discipline's capital of the world.

Argentina is not only about football. Basketball draws on the structured Hacional League and the legacy of Athens 2004; tennis - for the capital ATP-250, the Cordoba tournament and the Davis Case 2016; polo - for unconditional world leadership and unique 80-goal finals in Palermo. In total, these three sports expand the country's sports identity and form a rich calendar for fans and tourists.

Relevance of sources: checked on October 12, 2025 (Europe/Kyiv).