In 2018, the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF) was formed to promote the sport worldwide. This provided better coordination and support for international competitions. The tournament’s opening ceremony saw a gala of song, dance, and an Olympic-style team parade, reflecting the aspirations of organizers and athletes to take the sport globally.
{What was once a simple pastime has metamorphosed into a fiercely competitive domain, where agility, strategy, and sheer perseverance dictate success.|}Its reference can be found in ancient Indian texts, where the principles of speed and agility were emphasized for warriors.{Ever since, the KKFI has made great efforts to popularize the game, which is now played across India at various levels, from schools to the national team.|}It was played as a demonstration sport at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin but has not gathered enough support to be included as an official sport in the Summer Games.{India hosting the Kho-Kho World Cup and the country’s Olympics host aspirations are linked.|}Across India, these athletes have been celebrated as trailblazers, their triumphs marking a shift in public consciousness.
Gameplay
Among them, Kho Kho stands out as a thrilling and strategic game that combines agility, teamwork, and quick decision-making. „My elder sister played the sport, but was not able to pursue her dreams,“ Indian women’s team player Nasreen Shaikh, 26, told AFP. It was played as a demonstration sport at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin but did not gather enough support to be included in the Summer Games and since then has been largely eclipsed by India’s ferocious love of cricket. A demonstration sport at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Kho Kho’s footprint has expanded from six member countries in 2020 to 55 in 2025. Thirty-nine teams from 23 countries — four apiece from Europe and Africa — are at the World Cup.
The sport, once overlooked, is now creating viable professional pathways for women athletes. Both at the central and state levels, governments have offered jobs to the champions of the 2025 Kho Kho World Cup. Additionally, many players are now receiving endorsement deals, further legitimising the sport as a career choice. The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) has played a pivotal role in engineering this transformation. Through structured training programs, expert-led coaching, tailored fitness regimens, and mental wellness support, they have ensured equal opportunities for both men and women.
Competitions
“In our region, girls were once discouraged from playing Kho Kho due to rigid mindsets. People questioned how a girl could wear shorts and participate in the game. Girls are developing their skills and excelling in sports like never before,” said Priyanka Ingle, captain of the Indian women’s Kho Kho team that won the 2025 World Cup.
Kho-kho, traditional Indian sport, a form of tag, that is one of the oldest forms of outdoor sport, dating back to prehistoric India. But Pakistan is a glaring omission from the competition despite the sport being popular there – a reflection of the deep animosity between the nuclear-armed archrivals. And at its forefront are the fearless women of Kho Kho, proving that no boundary is insurmountable when determination, skill, and opportunity converge. World Cup organizers have refused to comment on the absence, which has failed to dim the sense of optimism at this week’s competition that the sport is destined to thrive. But Pakistan is a glaring omission from the competition despite the sport being popular there — a reflection of the deep animosity between the nuclear-armed archrivals. However, initiatives like the Ultimate Kho Kho League are changing this narrative, attracting sponsors and creating a fan base for the sport.
{Olympic push for kho kho, India’s ancient tag sport|}
India men’s team captain Pratik Waikar believes the first World Cup will be a springboard. It’s a dream come true to captain the Indian team in the Kho-Kho World Cup.” An Olympic-sized dream as well. They went back and promoted the sport in countries like Australia, Poland and the Netherlands. In all 35 countries were keen on being at the World Cup but we had to stick to our continental quota rules,” Tyagi said. We have some sponsors who are very curious about Kho-Kho and want to spread Kho-Kho to schools,” Doering said. There are plans afoot for a South American championship post the World Cup.
“There has been a sea change in the sport,” said Indian men’s team captain Pratik Waikar. It was played as a demonstration sport at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin but has not gathered enough support to be included as an official sport in the Summer Games. Since then, it has been largely eclipsed by India’s ferocious love of cricket. Beyond societal recognition, Kho Kho has also begun opening doors to economic browse this site and career opportunities.