In which of the following sports, body balance is an important motor performance factor:

(A) Gymnastics

(B) Chess players

(C) Defensive position in Wrestling

(D) Diving

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is (A), (C) and (D) only.

To understand why this is the correct choice, let us analyze the role of body balance in each of the listed sports:

(A) Gymnastics: Gymnastics requires an exceptionally high level of static and dynamic balance. Athletes must maintain stability while performing routines on narrow apparatuses like the balance beam, or during floor exercises, vaults, and landings. Therefore, body balance is a critical motor performance factor in Gymnastics.

(B) Chess: Chess is a mental board game. While players need physical endurance to sit for long hours, the game does not require active physical motor performance factors like body balance to execute moves or compete. Thus, Chess players do not rely on body balance as a performance factor.

(C) Defensive position in Wrestling: In wrestling, maintaining a low, stable defensive stance is vital to prevent an opponent from taking you down or throwing you. This defense relies heavily on body balance and core stability to resist external forces. Thus, body balance is an important motor performance factor here.

(D) Diving: Divers must control their body orientation, rotation, and alignment precisely in the air and maintain perfect balance during takeoff and entry into the water. Therefore, body balance is highly critical in Diving.

By evaluating these sports, we find that body balance is an important motor performance factor in Gymnastics (A), Defensive position in Wrestling (C), and Diving (D), but not in Chess (B). This directly corresponds to the option (A), (C) and (D) only.