Which of the following sports requires significant reaction time?

The option that requires significant reaction time is the batsman in cricket. In this sport, the batsman must react quickly to a fast delivery bowled by the bowler. The speed of the ball, combined with the need to assess its trajectory and position, demands quick cognitive processing and physical response to either play a defensive shot, a targeted strike, or to evade the ball altogether. This ability to quickly interpret the situation and respond is critical to performance in cricket and can greatly influence the outcome of an at-bat.

In contrast, weightlifting mainly focuses on strength and technique, which relies more on preparation and less on rapid reactions to dynamic stimuli. Marathon running, while it requires endurance and pacing, does not typically involve immediate responses to external events in the same way. Archery also demands precision and focus but does not involve the rapid reaction required to respond to an opponent or a fast-moving object in the way cricket does. Therefore, the batsman's role in cricket distinctly illustrates the necessity for significant reaction time.