The first Kho Kho World Cup will begin on January 13 with a match between hosts India and bitter rivals Pakistan, the organizers said Wednesday.
The first-ever Kho Kho World Cup will begin on January 13 with a match between hosts India and bitter rivals Pakistan, the organizers said Wednesday. Up to 24 nations have indicated that they will attend the week-long event (January 13–19), which will be held at the Noida Indoor Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the nation’s capital. “On January 13, the league games will begin. That day will see an opening ceremony, followed by the most anticipated game of the season—the men’s team match between India and Pakistan,” Kho Kho World Cup CEO Vikram Dev Dogra told reporters.”Thereafter, on 14th, 15th and 16th January, the remaining league matches will carry on, following which the quarterfinals will be held on January 17 and semifinals on January 18 and final on January 19.” The event will include 21 men’s and 20 women’s teams vying for top honors.
Dogra stated that a national camp for 60 men and 60 women is presently happening at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and that the Indian teams for the event will be chosen from among these players.Sudhanshu Mittal, president of the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee, has revealed that Bollywood megastar Salman Khan will serve as the World Cup’s brand ambassador.
“I am announcing with pride that the brand ambassador of the event will be Salman Khan,” Mittal told reporters.
“I am honored to be associated with the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup 2025. This is more than just a tournament; it’s a celebration of India’s soil, energy, and power. “All of us, including myself, have played Kho Kho at some point in our lives,” Khan wrote in a message.”It is a sport that has already drawn attention from all over the world because of its constant action and unwavering energy. Let’s unite and honor Kho Kho’s spirit on the international scene,” he continued.
Teams from the United States, England, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil have all announced their intention to compete in the tournament.
For both men and women, the competition will be held in a league-cum-knockout style.
All Asian nations will send both their men’s and women’s teams, with the exception of Indonesia, which will only send its women’s team.According to Mittal, 125 support personnel and 615 players will participate in the event. 15 players, a manager, a coach, and international technical officials will make up each squad.
