The traditional Indian game of Kho Kho is experiencing a revival with professional leagues, increased global participation, and grassroots programs. Backed by modern technology and enthusiastic youth, the sport blends nostalgia with competitive spirit, positioning itself as a thrilling addition to India’s sporting culture and gaining recognition on the international stage.
No longer just another game millions of Indians played in their childhood, kho kho now holds the power to change lives.
Kho kho swept into Nasreen Sheikh’s life like a revolution—first came the battles, then the freedom. She had to pay a price along the way. Her game fractured family bonds. Her brother didn’t speak to her for five long years. But her father worked tirelessly selling steel utensils at two Delhi markets daily. With the earnings from the morning bazaar, he fed the family. The evening bazaar profits went into fuelling Nasreen’s kho kho dream. He bought her eggs, dry fruits, and fruits for her special diet.
Sheikh has captained various teams in her decade-long career winning 61 gold medals across national and international tournaments. She has also won 10 individual awards and was honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award last year. And that’s when her brother started speaking to her again. She is now synonymous with the rebirth of the game in India. And is bracing for a biopic on her as well. But what really smelled like the sweet taste of success was when she got the email about her selection for the most coveted trophy – a government job.
Today, she holds a job in the Income Tax department in Mumbai. Sheikh is a Multi-tasking Staff (MTS). With that, she is now vindicated in her family and neighbourhood.
Once a game of schoolyards and street corners in small towns and villages, kho kho is now growing in its global coolness. It’s getting a World Cup of its own in 2025, to be hosted in India. 24 nations – from Malaysia to New Zealand to Germany – will be vying for glory. Jhanvi Kapoor and Tiger Shroff are ambassadors for the mega event.
No longer just another game millions of Indians played in their childhood, it now holds the power to change lives, grant players recognition, status, and a secure future—by providing government jobs and university admissions. The all-powerful sports quota now includes kho kho. Its journey is not just from mud to mat, it has now become a path to careers and upward mobility.
“A player’s hunger isn’t satisfied by the game alone. A middle-class player must also carve out their future,” said Nirmala Bhati who is currently coaching the New Zealand kho kho team and is also preparing to play for India in the World Cup. She also got the income tax department job in Mumbai last year.
Kho Kho, believed to date back over 4,000 years to the Mahabharata, is rooted in the strategic brilliance of the Kurukshetra war. The famous Chakravyuha formation, introduced by Guru Dronacharya, was a test of strategy, much like the ring play in Kho Kho, where players use agility and teamwork to outsmart opponents. Legend has it that the game was once played on chariots for speed and thrill.
But the newest chapter that has propelled the game into the global league began with the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and Asian Kho kho Federation (AKKF) organising a coaching camp at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in 2020. Coaches from countries such as Ghana, Korea, England, Iran, Malaysia, Uganda, and more were invited for what was initially planned as a four-week event. But with the pandemic forcing a sudden lockdown, the camp moved to the basement of Sopan Heights Hotel in Delhi. What was meant to last a month stretched into an extraordinary eight-month-long immersive experience.
In this unlikely setting, 65 coaches from 16 countries, including India, came together to learn, adapt, and embrace the game. Indian coaches such as Sumit Ashvani, Satyaveer Malik, and MS Tyagi (General Secretary of KKFI) led the sessions. Coaches returned to their home countries with the shared knowledge of the game, helping its growth as a global sport.
The greater recognition of the sport is evident in the fact that India’s national universities are offering quota for kho kho players. “This year, Delhi University reserved 125 seats for kho kho players, surpassing the number of applicants,” said Tyagi. Universities such as Hyderabad University, Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University and more already have sports quotas for kho kho. Panjab University even offers free education to exceptionally talented players.
Kho Kho gained massive attention with the 2022 Ultimate Kho Kho League, drawing 193 million viewers. In 2023, the Asian Championship in Guwahati further solidified its worldwide presence. These events have given the game the global stage it deserved, bringing fame and respect for the players. “Kho kho has changed lives—around 3,000 players have secured government jobs through it,” said Mittal.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) offers scholarships to young players excelling in national kho kho tournaments — Rs12,000 per month for those under 18 and Rs 16,000 per month for those over 18. The selection process, overseen by a committee from AAI, also considers athletes who may not be students, ensuring that talent, regardless of background, is rewarded.
“Each year, the KKFI organises around 15 tournaments for women’s kho kho teams,” said Tyagi, emphasising the progress being made toward gender equality in the sport. Each tournament offers a prize pool of Rs 6 lakh, which is distributed among the players and for production costs.
Growing up in a family where women had limited freedom, the very idea of playing an outdoor sport seemed out of reach. Shaikh’s elder sister was the first to have expressed the desire to play kho kho. The family didn’t support her and she had to let go of her aspirations. Shaikh however was inspired by her sister’s passion and decided to pursue the game herself.
While her parents were still hesitant, they didn’t deny the younger daughter. As the years passed, she pushed through their doubts with her unwavering determination and success. She gradually won the respect and support of her family and relatives.
Starting in third grade, Shaikh took on the role of team captain, a responsibility she carried proudly through the years at different stages of her career—from school to zone to state and now India.
After years of hard work and sacrifice, last year, she bought her family a new home in Delhi’s Sangam Vihar. Kho-kho isn’t just a sport for her, it’s a platform to challenge stereotypes and pave the way for other women to dream big.
The 2023 Arjuna Award marked a turning point in her career, elevating her to fame, something she had hoped for during her years of struggle. The national recognition meant frequent media visits to her home.
“I had every award, but the Arjuna Award felt like the missing piece,” she said.
The opposition from relatives and neighbors—who criticised the short length of the uniforms and the uncertain future kho-kho seemed to offer—didn’t deter her.
“I used to tell my family my daughter was heading to tuition, but instead, she would sneak off to practice,” said Shaikh’s mother.
“Whenever someone told me, ‘Nasreen, you can’t do this,’ I made sure to prove them wrong. I can’t stand hearing ‘No’,” she said.
For Shaikh, the number seven symbolises her identity—her jersey number, the number of siblings she has, and her date of birth. To her, seven is more than lucky—it’s a symbol of resilience and triumph.
Shaikh’s story is now inspiring a new breed of kho kho players wanting to push boundaries and live their dream. Md. Mirajul, 19, is already on a promising path, having played in 11 National kho kho tournaments. His journey began in 4th grade at school, where Pawan Chahal, his coach, first introduced him to the sport. What started as a fun activity, quickly turned into a passion.
Mirajul grew up in JJ Colony, Ashok Vihar. His mother earns Rs 150 a day crafting plastic bangles, while his father runs a small stabiliser relay factory perched above their modest home in Ashok Vihar. Initially, he aspired to become a cricketer and later considered joining the Indian Army. But his cricketing dream faded as he realised the game was an expensive pursuit. Kho kho, on the other hand, was something he could access through his school, and he felt it was his best shot.
Despite his growing passion for the sport, his family had different expectations. They wanted him to secure a stable government job. As his journey progresses, Mirajul is turning his dreams into reality. A student of English and Psychology at Delhi University, which he gained admission to through the sports quota, he’s not just training for the World Cup — he’s also stepping into the next chapter of his life. Recently, he secured a postman’s job in West Bengal and is now awaiting his document verification. But through it all, one thing remains certain: kho kho will always come first. He is now preparing for the upcoming World Cup.
“First, I learned to balance my studies with kho kho. Now, I’ll balance my job with it. But I will never compromise on kho kho,” he said.
Nirmala Bhati, 25, who comes from a small village in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district, made history becoming the first woman to represent India in kho kho on an international stage. Now in New Zealand, she’s not just coaching their national team for the 2025 Kho kho World Cup, but also training herself to take her game to the next level.
“Success comes with a shift in perceptions,” Bhati said. “If god didn’t discriminate while creating us, why should society draw lines between men and women?”
Working in Mumbai’s Income Tax Department, Bhati often frequents the Marine Drive. She said she finds solace while reflecting on her journey. “Now, players can focus solely on the game. Diet, stardom, careers—everything will be taken care of by KKFI. Stardom is crucial for players, and it’s time everyone realises what kho kho has given us,” she added.
Her relatives once questioned her parents, asking who would marry her if she got injured playing. But Bhati’s mother had a powerful answer: “One day, my daughter will be so accomplished that marriage won’t be a worry.”
They are the first in their families to secure government jobs, a direct result of their hard work and the recognition the sport is now receiving.
In 2012, Bhati was on a local bus in Rajasthan when she had an experience that left a lasting impact on her. Athletes from more mainstream sports like cricket and kabaddi travelling on the same bus were being instantly recognised by the public from their sports uniforms. For Bhati, a kho kho player, such recognition was a rarity, highlighting the stark difference.
Back then, kho-kho was not considered a mainstream sport, and its players often went unnoticed despite their hard work and achievements. This pushed Bhati harder.
“This game was once played on the sand, but now it’s played on mats. The journey to get here has been tough,” said Pawan Chahal, 45, a kho kho coach at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium. He has been coaching for the past 20 years.
As a coach, he trains players relentlessly and sometimes even speaks directly to their parents to ensure their support.
The Kho kho Federation of India (KKFI) has integrated sports science into training to improve performance, and therapy to support athletes’ mental health.
While India is leading the way in kho kho, other countries too are doing their bit to spread the sport. Teams from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and beyond, too, are making remarkable strides in the sport. However, Mittal is confident that India is still ahead of the pack in the World Cup race.
The Kho kho World Cup 2025 will be a landmark event, with 24 nations competing through 40 teams—20 men’s and 20 women’s.
Before kho kho, Kabaddi had gained global recognition as a sport born in the Indian subcontinent, often referred to as “Mitti ka khel”, game of the soil. But it is largely played in other countries by people of Indian origin. Kho kho, however, is “Bharat ka apna khel going global”, with native players from the participating countries leading the charge.
This is just the beginning. “Our vision is to grow to 90 countries by the end of 2025 and to make kho kho an Olympic sport by 2032,” said Mittal, outlining an ambitious plan. #hydkhabar
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