The Maharashtra team made a clean sweep at the 56th National Kho Kho Championship 2023-24. It won both the men's and women’s titles, held at Delhi’s Karnail Singh Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The winning team collected a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and a trophy. The runner-up got a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a Trophy.
In the final match played at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the Maharashtra men’s team defeated the Indian Railway team. At the end of the stipulated time, both teams were tied at 32-32 points. In the third inning, Maharashtra beat Indian Railways by 52 to 50 points.
In the semi-final, the Maharashtra men’s team defeated the Kolhapur team by 30-28 points. The Indian Railways team, the other finalist, defeated Odisha 24-22 in the other semi-final.
In the women’s category, the Maharashtra team, led by Sampada Maurya, defeated the Airport Authority of India team by 18-16 points. In the semi-finals, the Maharashtra team defeated Odisha 24-20, while the Airport Authority of India defeated Delhi 32-10 to reach the final. The final was played at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The 56th National Kho Kho Championship 2023-24 was organised by the Kho Kho Federation of India at Delhi’s Karnail Singh Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from 28 March to 1 April 2024.
In the men’s category, 37 teams participated, divided into 8 groups. Similarly, 37 teams participated in the women’s category, divided into 8 groups.
It is a traditional sport in India that is considered very ancient. It is considered the second most popular traditional sport in India after Kabbadi. It can be played both indoors and outdoors.
The first Kho Kho competition was organised in 1914.
The Kho-kho Federation of India organised the first National Championship at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, in 1959.
Kho Kho was included as a demonstration sport in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics and the 3rd South Asian Federation Games held in Kolkata(Calcutta) in 1987.
The Asian Kho Kho Federation was set up during the 3rd South Asian Federation Games.
The first Asian-level games were organised as the Asian Kho Kho Federation Championship in Kolkata 1996. Later, the name was changed to the Asian Kho Kho Championship. The Indian men's and women’s teams are the current Asian champions. They won the men’s and women’s titles of the 4th Asian Kho Kho Championship held in Assam in 2023.
30 June is observed as National /International Kho Kho Day to popularise the game.
Kho Kho Federation of India
It was set up in 1955. It is a body recognised by the government of India .
Headquarters: New Delhi
President: Sudhanshu Mitta