Both the Indian men's and women's Kho Kho teams were victorious at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Their performances against Nepal in their finals displayed India's prowess in this traditional sport.
The Indian women's team set the stage with a dominant 78-40 win over Nepal. Their speed, strategy, and skill were on full display, leaving no doubt about their superiority.
Captain Priyanka Ingle led by example, scoring multiple touch points and helping the Women in Blue build a strong foundation in Turn 1, where they racked up 14 points. India continued to dominate, taking a commanding 34-11 lead at halftime.
A stellar Dream Run by B Chaithra in Turn 4, lasting over five minutes, sealed the victory and crowned India as the first-ever women's champions of the Kho Kho World Cup.
The women's team's winning streaks includes impressive wins over South Korea, Iran, and Malaysia in the group stages, followed by convincing victory against Bangladesh in the quarterfinals and South Africa in the semifinals.
Indian men's team followed suit with a 54-36 victory over Nepal. Captain Pratik Waikar and tournament standout Ramji Kashyap were instrumental in the win. Pratik's incredible skill and Ramji's spectacular skydives kept Nepal on the defensive. India's Turn 1 performance was particularly dominant, with the Men in Blue scoring 26 unanswered points. Despite Nepal's attempts to stage a comeback in Turn 4, India's defense, led by Pratik Waikar and Sachin Bhargo, proved impenetrable.
The men's reached the final, with victories against Brazil, Peru, and Bhutan in the group stages, followed by knockout wins over Bangladesh and South Africa.
This double victory in the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup no doubt has brought pride to the nation and etched it in the sports history.
