Indian men and women's team wins inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025

The Indian women's and men’s teams made a clean sweep at the inaugural edition of the World Kho Kho by winning the respective titles. In the final of the World Cup played at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi,the Indian men’s and women’s teams defeated Nepal in both finals.

The Kho Kho Federation of India organised the First Kho Kho World Cup 2025 with support from the Indian Olympic Association in New Delhi from 13-19 January 2025. The World Cup was inaugurated by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the  World Cup on 13 January 2025.

The 20 countries' men’s teams and 19 countries' women's teams participated in the World Cup.

Indian team vanquishes Nepal to win the Title 

In the men’s final India team outplayed Nepal to win the final with 54-36 points. 

The Indian men’s team placed in Group A won all its group matches by defeating Brazil, Nepal, and Peru.

In the quarterfinals, the Indian team defeated Sri Lanka and South Africa in the semi-finals.

In the group stages, Nepal was at the second position in Group A after India. In the quarterfinal Nepal defeated Bangladesh and in the semi-finals it defeated Iran.

Women 

In the final, the Indian women's team defeated Nepal by 78-40 points.

The Indian team was placed in Group A along with Iran, Malaysia, and South Korea and it won all its group matches to top the group.

In the quarter-finals, the Indian women's team defeated Bangladesh and South Africa in the semi-finals.

The Nepal team was placed in Group C and won all its matches to top the group. In the quarter-finals Nepali team defeated Iran and in the semi-finals defeated Uganda.

About Kho Kho 

Kho Kho is a traditional Indian game that is very ancient in its origin. 

It was included as a demonstration game in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics along with Kabaddi, and Mallakhamb.

• Kho Kho was a demonstration sport at the 1982 Delhi Asian Games. 
• The first national level All India Kho Kho Championship for men was held at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh in 1959-60.
• The first national championship for women was held in Kolhapur, Maharashtra in 1960-61.
• Kolkata hosted the first Kho Kho Asian Championship in 1996.

Kho Kho Federation of India 

Kho Kho Federation of India, set up in 1955 is the sports governing body in India. It was set up in 1955.

Headquarters: New Delhi 

President: Sudhansu Mittal