Bringing Kho Kho to the Olympic limelight: that’s the ultimate goal for the sport, and KFFI continues to move in the direction of achieving the same with the advent of the Kho Kho World Cup, stated KKFI President Sudhanshu Mittal in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and the International Kho Kho Federation have announced that the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup will take place in India in 2025. The event will witness the participation of 24 countries from 6 continents and will feature 16 men’s and as many as women’s teams.
The tournament, set to take place across January 13-19 of 2025, will feature a week-long series of matches, with top-tier athletes from across the globe.
With players from all over the globe coming in to compete, the emphasis to be placed, if the sport is to truly grow and flourish, is on native residents of the respective countries being brought in to the fold.
Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho Kho Federation of India, re-emphasised the same, in an exclusive talk with News18 Sports.
“The emphasis is on native players playing the sport, rather than depending on Indian-born players who have settled in those countries playing the game. That is where the true success lies,” emphasised Mittal.
‘We have been able to motivate the natives to adopt the game, and they have done so beautifully. You will see the competitiveness that centre stage for all the witness when the World Cup begins.”
Talking to those in presence at the launch of the official logo for the Kho Kho World Cup 2025, Mittal also expressed the KKFI’s long-term goal for Kho Kho: making it an Olympic sport.
“Our dream of having Kho Kho represented in the biggest of international stages such as the Olympics, the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games isn’t merely a dream, for we work towards it with a fire in our bellies to make them a reality,” stated Mittal to the crowds.
“So, come Olympics 2032, Kho Kho shall be a part of the Games. Because all the requirements to make it an internationally recognised and consumable sport, with regards to viewership and countries participating, have been met as the sport only continues to grow.”
“If Kho Kho goes to the Olympics, then two golds are guaranteed for India,” exclaimed a spirited Mittal.
One of the biggest proponents for the rise of popularity of Kho Kho in the general audience in India has been the advent of Ultimate Kho Kho, which Mittal stated was a pivotal step in the growth of the game.
“Ultimate Kho Kho brought the world of Kho Kho from oblivion to international focus. They are there on television, presenting such a glamorous side of the sport. The family of Kho Kho will always be grateful for the league,” Mittal stated to News18 Sports.
The Kho Kho World Cup will be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in New Delhi from January 13–19, 2025.
