Sports lovers from the Indian subcontinent have always been known for their passion for cricket. But, as the Kho-Kho Cup is taking place in India for the first time, they are proving that they also love their indigenous games immensely. Kho-Kho, the ancient tag game that dates back to Mahabharata, is now at the center of attention for sports lovers. The Kho-Kho Federation of India has partnered with the International Kho-Kho Federation to honor the century-old Kho-Kho game. The 2025 Kho-Kho Cup is held from January 13th -19th at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
What is the Kho-Kho game?
Kho-Kho is a catch-me-if-you-can type tag game generally played outside on a rectangular court divided by a line. Teams switch their position of attacking and defending while the attacking side chases the defending players around the court. You can chase one player at a time, and the attacker can only move in one direction. The sound “Kho” was made during the gameplay.
When one attacker chases a defender, the rest of the attackers sit in a line along the dental lane. The chasing attacker can run along the central line and is allowed to change direction by circling the poles. They can also pass their role to another of their team members by giving them a Kho-tap. On the other hand, to dodge the attacker, the defender needs to be speedy and agile and play the game strategically. They can use the free zones on either side of the field to defend themselves against the attacker.
Kho-Kho games are played in two innings, with the teams taking turns playing the attacker and defender. Each innings lasts seven innings. When a defender is tagged, the attacking team scores. Finally, the team with the highest score wins the game.
Why is Kho-Kho Getting Popular?
The first-ever Kho-Kho Cup will be held in India, and 24 countries will participate here. This shows the increasing popularity of this traditional Indian game. Kho-Kho is popular with many international athletes because of the agility and speed required to excel in it.
In India, Kho-Kho is a common game played in school, but until recently, people have never given this game the attention it deserves. But, in 2022, when the franchise-based Kho-Kho games started, and a lot of Indian fans had their eyes glued to the screen, it revealed the actual potential of the game. The Kho-Kho Federation of India has taken the initiative to increase the number of Kho-Kho players. To register around 5 million people, they have introduced Kho-Kho games to 200 elite schools in 10 cities.
Kho-Kho was previously demonstrated on the sidelines of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. However, the lack of support took away the chance for Kho-Kho to be part of the Summer Games. While in India, Kho-Kho does not enjoy the immense popularity of Cricket or Football, its fan base is now evolving.
The Kho-Kho International Cup tournament is a dream come true for many Kho-Kho lovers. If this event succeeds in engaging a large number of viewers, Kho-Kho might be included in the 2032 Olympics.
History of Kho-Kho Sport
The exact date of origin of this indigenous game is unknown. However, it is considered that the game originated in Maharashtra, where it was played on a chariot. Therefore, the game was known as Rathera (Rath is the Hindi word for chariot). The “kho” sound was made during the game, and from there, this game received the name Kho-kho. For the same reason, this game was also called Kho Dwani Krira—a game where the sound Kho is used.
The game that has been played for 2000 years in South Asian countries reached its present form recently in the 20th century. Traditionally, the game was played in the mud and is now shaped to be played on the mats. Despite its ancient origin, the game received its first structured rules and regulations in 1914. It was written in Pune’s Deccan Gymkhana. Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote the first rule book for Kho-Kho.
The first national championship of Kho-Kho was held in Vijayawada, India, under the watch of the Kho-Kho Federation in 1959. In 1982, the game was also demonstrated during the Asian Games in New Delhi. On the other hand, in 2016, Kho-Kho was a medal sport at the South Asian Games held in Guwahati. The Kho-Kho started gaining the attention of sports enthusiasts when a franchise-based Kho-Kho league was started in 2022. This league received a high viewership in India and became the third most-watched non-cricket sports game after the Kabaddi and Football leagues.
Kho-Kho World Cup Game Structure
The 2025 edition of the Kho-Kho International Cup is following the round-robin format. The participating teams are divided into four groups, five in each group, except for Group A of the women’s category, which only has four teams. The Kho-Kho is using a 12-per-side format for the 2025 International Cup edition.
The Kho-Kho games for both categories (Men’s and Women’s) have a group stage that rolls into knockouts. The top two teams in knockout matches will qualify for the Quarterfinals. Losing any single game in the knockout stage will eliminate the team from the International Cup.
The quarterfinal qualifiers will play the semifinals, and the winners will advance to the finals. The winner of the final games will earn the title of the first Kho-Kho International Champions.
Teams Participating in the Kho-Kho International Cup
In the game’s inaugural version, 20 men’s and 19 women’s teams joined. Here is the list of groups formed with countries taking part in the Kho-Kho International Cup game:
- Men’s Category:
Group A: India, Nepal, Peru, Brazil, Bhutan
Group B: South Africa, Ghana, Netherlands, Iran, Argentina
Group C: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, USA, South Korea, Poland
Group D: Germany, England, Malaysia, Australia, Kenya
- Women’s Category:
Group A: India, Iran, Malaysia, South Korea
Group B: Australia, Uganda, Kenya, England, Netherlands
Group C: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Germany, Bangladesh
Group D: South Africa, Peru, Poland, Indonesia, New Zealand
An Overview of the Schedule
The Kho-Kho World Cup tournament has 16 teams from 24 countries across six continents participating in men’s and women’s categories. The first match of the series began with the face-off between the Men’s Kho-Kho teams of India and Nepal on 13th January, Monday, at 8:30 PM. Want to watch the Kho-Kho World Cup games live? Check the time and date of some of the significant matches of this series.
- Men’s Category
First Game Of The Series: 13th January, Monday (8:30 PM IST onwards) – India vs Nepal
The Quarterfinal Games: 17th January, Friday (11:45 AM IST onwards)
The Semifinal Games: 18th January, Saturday (5:45 PM IST onwards)
The Final Game: 19th January, Sunday (8:15 PM IST)
- Women’s Category
First game of the series: 14th January, Tuesday (11:45 AM IST onwards) – England vs. Australia
The Quarterfinal Games: 17th January, Friday (10:30 AM IST onwards)
The Semifinal Games: 18th January, Saturday (4:30 PM IST onwards)
The Final Game: 19th January, Sunday (7:00 PM IST)
The Kho-Kho International Cup isn’t just any other game happening in India. It is a tradition that is being honored, with other countries joining the series. Sports lovers also hope for more exposure for Kho-Kho at the international level. With the number of fans increasing, the hope of having Kho-Kho as an Olympic event is getting high. So, pull up your socks and be ready to witness history in the making!
Conclusion
If you are an Indian fan, don’t miss the chance to experience the high-voltage matches of the Kho-Kho World Cup games. You can watch the games live on Star Sports Network and DD Sports. The matches are also available on Disney+ Hotstar App and their website.
