Kho Kho World Cup 2025: The Indian women’s and men’s team won the title
Team India made athletic history by winning the first Kho Kho World Cup 2025 title in a spectacular display of speed, talent, and strategy at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on a lovely Sunday night.
India’s men’s and women’s teams won the first Kho Kho World Cup on Sunday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, marking a historic occasion in sports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the two wins and said it was a great day for Indian sports and a significant boost for one of the nation’s oldest traditional activities.
In the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup, the Indian women’s team defeated Nepal 78–40 in a decisive match to win the title. The women’s team’s triumphs included decisive wins in the group stages against South Korea, Iran, and Malaysia, as well as victory against Bangladesh in the quarterfinals and South Africa in the semi-finals.
Thanks to strong efforts from tournament star Ramji Kashyap and skipper Pratik Waikar, the Men in Blue easily defeated Nepal 54-36 in the final. They were added to the women’s team, who won a decisive 78-40 victory over Nepal in another outstanding final.
The Indian men’s team had an incredible road to the championship. India’s resounding wins over Brazil, Peru, and Bhutan in the group rounds set the stage for their dominance throughout the competition. They maintained their momentum throughout the knockout stages, defeating a formidable South African team in the semifinals and outperforming Bangladesh in the quarterfinals.
In spite of frequent touches from players like Janak Chand and Suraj Pujara, the team maintained a 26–18 lead going into the second half of the match thanks to Aditya Ganpule and captain Pratik Waikar.
First to attack, Ramji Kashyap’s spectacular skydive won Suraj Pujara of Nepal. India got off to a fantastic start with 10 points in only 4 minutes when Suyash Gargate touched Bharat Sahu. The Men in Blue were known for their skill in skydiving, which gave them a strong start in Turn 1 and kept their opponents from making the Dream Run. The Indians had a terrific start as the score at the end of the turn was 26-0 in their favor.
Nepal made a valiant effort to rally against Team India in Turn 4. However, the defenders, who were once more headed by Pratik Waikar and Sachin Bhargo, also affectionately known as Chingari, proved to be too formidable. With equally outstanding performances from Mehul and Suman Barman, Team India won a well-earned championship in the end, winning 54-36.
“Today’s a great day for Indian Kho Kho. Incredibly proud of Indian Men’s Kho Kho team for winning the Kho Kho World Cup title. Their grit and dedication is commendable. This win will contribute to further popularising Kho Kho among the youth,” PM Modi wrote on X.
In addition, the Prime Minister praised the Indian women’s team for their historic victory, stating, “Congratulations to the Indian women’s team on winning the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup! This victory, driven by their unparalleled skill, determination, and teamwork, will inspire countless young athletes across the nation.“