These results highlighted the ability of the hosts to maintain composure and control, even against strong opponents who had displayed form throughout the tournament. Fans in India can watch the live television broadcast of all Kho Kho World Cup 2025 matches on Star Sports Network and DD Sports. In addition, Disney+ Hotstar app and website will livestream the matches for digital users.
Purists regard the outdoor game as the truest expression of the sport. Whether or not that lineage is literal, what is certain is that a chasing game called Kho Kho has been played in rural Maharashtra and across the Indian subcontinent for centuries. The finals of the 2025 edition highlighted how preparation, strategic awareness, and role clarity influence outcomes at the top level.
Yes, both divisions from the host country remained unbeaten throughout the event and won their respective final matches against Nepal with clear margins. The female final began with immediate offensive aggression, setting the tone for a dominant performance. In the male final, the early exchanges were balanced, but adjustments in defensive rotations and chase coordination gradually shifted the outcome.
Kho Kho World Cup 2025: India Squads, Format, Fixtures And Streaming; All You Need To Know
The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) was founded in 1958 in Pune, Maharashtra, and is responsible for managing Kho Kho in India. Recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the federation organizes national tournaments and promotes the sport in schools. The game, which features two teams of nine players each, is known for its fast-paced action and demands quick reflexes. Kho Kho emphasizes gender equality, with both men and women competing at the same level.
The event will show how Kho Kho has evolved from being played on dirt fields to modern sports mats, while still keeping its cultural roots intact. From there, the tournament will follow a knockout format, where the winning teams move to the semifinals and then the finals. The first-ever Kho Kho World Cup is set to begin on January 13, 2025, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. This tournament is a historic moment for the sport, as Kho Kho, which has its roots in India, will take center stage on a global platform.
Every sequence on the mat carried weight, as spectators witnessed a strong tactical display and physical endurance from both sides. Kho Kho is currently played in 54 countries, which shows the sport’s growing popularity outside India. The World Cup will give international audiences a chance to experience this exciting sport. In preparation for the World Cup, the KKFI will launch a program to introduce Kho Kho to 200 schools in 10 cities across India. This will help spread the sport at a grassroots level and get more young people involved.
- The finals of the 2025 edition highlighted how preparation, strategic awareness, and role clarity influence outcomes at the top level.
- In the final round of the female division, Nasreen emerged as the standout athlete with an exceptional performance that elevated the tempo of the match from the very start.
- Each chase was calculated, and defence was organized with clear communication.
- The team that wins the final will become the first-ever Kho Kho world champions.
- With the host nation securing titles in both brackets, the championship set a high competitive standard and established a clear benchmark for future participants.
- In each turn the chasing side gets exactly 9 minutes to tag as many defenders as possible.
- Starting his journey through fantasy sports, he developed a keen eye for numbers and trends shaping the game's narrative.
Fifa News
The professional era began in August 2022 with the launch of the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK)league — six franchises, indoor format on a mat surface, televised on Sony Sports. The inaugural season attracted 64 million viewers, making it India's third-most watched non-cricket sports league behind only Pro Kabaddi and the ISL. TheInternational Kho Kho Federation (IKKF) was formally affiliated with the KKFI in 2018 and has since grown membership from 6 countries in 2020 to over 55 by 2025. The host nation won both titles, defeating Nepal in the final matches of both male and female divisions with dominant performances throughout the entire tournament. The final round of the 2025 international championship marked a defining moment in the history of the sport. The tournament maintained a format where top four squads from each group qualified for the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the final.
Kho Kho World Cup 2025 Day 2: India's match timings and live streaming
With 81 total matches played, the outcomes brought clarity to the hierarchy among participating nations. The Kho Kho result international kho kho tournament from each phase displayed a rising standard of athleticism and global reach. The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 is set to mark a historic milestone in the global journey of India indigenous sport.
Best Player of the Match
The fixtures displayed a superior command of strategy and precision in execution. The line-ups showcased strong formations and swift transitions, essential in a discipline where speed and anticipation define success. Kho Kho is a traditional Indian sport, and this World Cup will put it on the global map.
The Kho Kho World Cup 2025’s group stages will be played in a round-robin format. Saino Zachariah is a content producer and editor, with a focus on cricket, AFL, NRL, and Indian sports. His work has appeared in publications such as The Mirror UK & US, Irish Star, and Express where he has covered MLB, football, tennis, and basketball. Starting his journey through fantasy sports, he developed a keen eye for numbers and trends shaping the game's narrative. Despite a background in science, he draws inspiration from art, film, and history.
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India has been chosen to host the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup in 2025, which will bring together 24 countries from six continents. Both the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and the International Kho Kho Federation have confirmed this exciting event. The opening ceremony on January 13 will be followed by the first men's match, where India will face Nepal. The men's competition has four groups, with five teams in each group.
Through well-crafted content, Its my duty to ensures that learners remain informed, prepared, and ready to tackle any current affairs-related questions in their exams. India’s men’s team will compete against heavyweights Nepal to start their campaign on Monday while the women’s team will kick off its season against South Korea on January 14. Below, we have collected all the information you need to know about the tournament in one place. During the group stage, each team will play one match against every other team in its group.
Throughout the championship, high-intensity action and strategic brilliance defined the matches. The advancement of Nepal to both finals signals the emergence of new challengers, adding depth to the international field. Their performance will likely motivate other nations to invest in infrastructure, coaching, and grassroots initiatives. The tournament demonstrated how closely contested fixtures and tactical precision can captivate audiences, raising interest beyond traditional strongholds.
- Recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the federation organizes national tournaments and promotes the sport in schools.
- The line-ups showcased strong formations and swift transitions, essential in a discipline where speed and anticipation define success.
- Fans in India can watch the live television broadcast of all Kho Kho World Cup 2025 matches on Star Sports Network and DD Sports.
- The defending side can score bonus points by surviving long enough ("Dream Runs" in UKK format).
- India won both the men's and women's titles, going unbeaten throughout the tournament.
- Official measurements, history, rules, and tournaments — all in one place.
The outcomes of the 2025 international tournament mark a significant shift in how the sport is perceived and played globally. With the host nation securing titles in both brackets, the championship set a high competitive standard and established a clear benchmark for future participants. These victories reflect not only individual talent and the success of structured training programs and strategic development on the national level.
Scheduled for early 2025, this prestigious international tournament will feature top national teams from across Asia, Europe, and Africa, competing for global supremacy in Kho Kho. Organised annually by KKFI for men, women, sub-junior, junior, and senior categories. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha are historically the strongest state teams. The 35th Sub-Junior Championship was held in Kurukshetra, Haryana in 2026. This is the format played at national championships, Asian Championships, and the World Cup.
Each unit faced Nepal in the final round, establishing a shared continental rivalry that added further significance to the event. The Kho Kho World Cup final results concluded with two decisive victories, reinforcing full control by the host country on the international stage. The Kho Kho World Cup results reflect the growing international appeal of this traditional discipline. This article presents verified outcomes, including final scores, point tables, and key matches that shaped the overall standings of the tournament.