Kho Kho Has Now Caught Momentum At Full Speed And It Will Not Stop: KKFI President

The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) celebrated the hosting of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, which saw India lifting the maiden crown in both men's and women's categories on Sunday. KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal believes the sport, which originated in India, has now gained momentum at full speed and will not be slowing down soon. "My heart is full. Today I feel Kho Kho has finally reached the level it deserved. Such an ancient sport was diminishing but when the Prime Minister congratulated us on our win then I felt we have reached the level. Kho Kho has now caught momentum at full speed and it will not stop," he told IANS on Monday.

Indian men's team dominated the final against Nepal with a commanding 54-36 victory, led by outstanding performances from captain Pratik Waikar and tournament standout Ramji Kashyap. They joined the women's team, who dominated Nepal in another excellent final, sealing their victory with an emphatic score of 78-40.

With the inaugural event now behind us, the president went on to reveal that the next edition of the tournament will take place in England in 2026-27 and the Kho Kho Federation of England has issued an open challenge to India.

"Next World Cup will take place in Birmingham in 2026-27. The Kho Kho Federation of England has challenged us they will host the tournament even better than us. I personally want to lose this challenge and hope that the event is grander than this time and they win the challenge," he added.

The Indian men's team's journey to the championship was nothing short of remarkable. India showcased their dominance throughout the tournament, beginning with convincing victories over Brazil, Peru and Bhutan in the group stages.