India Wins Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025
The Indian men's Kho Kho team secured a historic victory at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi. They defeated Nepal 54-36 in the final. The Indian women's team also emerged victorious, defeating Nepal in their final match.
Men's Team's Triumphant Victory
Captain Pratik Waikar and tournament star Ramji Kashyap led the Indian men's team to victory. A commanding 26-0 lead in the first turn set the tone for the match. Nepal mounted a spirited comeback attempt, but India consistently thwarted their efforts.
Key Contributions from Ramji Kashyap and Pratik Waikar
Ramji Kashyap's impressive skydive against Nepal's Suraj Pujara proved to be a turning point. Following this, Suyash Garget secured 10 points for India within four minutes. In turn two, Captain Pratik Waikar and Aditya Ganpule further solidified India's lead, extending it to 26-18 by halftime.
India's Dominant Final Performance
India continued their b performance in turn three, with Captain Waikar executing several skydives and collaborating with Ramji Kashyap to push the score to 54-18. Nepal attempted a resurgence in turn four, but India's defense held firm, securing a 54-36 victory.
Indian Women's Team Also Wins Gold
Earlier, the Indian women's team also delivered a stellar performance, defeating Nepal 78-40 to claim the Kho Kho World Cup title. This victory marks another historic moment for Indian Kho Kho.
India's Dominance Throughout the Tournament
India demonstrated dominance throughout the tournament. After group stage victories against Brazil, Peru, and Bhutan, they defeated Bangladesh and South Africa in the knockout rounds.
Notable Attendees at the Tournament
The Kho Kho World Cup final was attended by several prominent figures, including former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Supreme Court Judge Pankaj Mittal, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. Also present were Odisha's Sports Minister Suryavanshi Suraj, the International Kho-Kho Federation President Sudhanshu Mittal, and the Joint General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Krishna Gopal, who witnessed this historic event.
