Synopsis
On January 22, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recognized the Indian men's and women's Kho Kho teams for their historic victory at the inaugural World Cup, where India won titles in both categories.Key Takeaways
- Mansukh Mandaviya honored the Kho Kho World Cup-winning teams.
- India won the inaugural titles in men's and women's categories.
- The teams triumphed over Nepal in the finals.
- Traditional games are being revitalized in India.
- Future targets include the Asian Games 2026.
New Delhi, Jan 22 (NationPress) Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, on Wednesday, honored the Indian men's and women's Kho Kho teams for their remarkable achievement at the inaugural World Cup.
As the host nation, India celebrated a historic moment by clinching the first-ever titles in both the men's and women's divisions at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on January 19. Both teams triumphed over Nepal in their respective finals.
The complete rosters of both the men's and women's Kho Kho teams, along with their coaches, Sudhanshu Mittal, the President of the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), and other officials from the Union Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India, were present for this momentous occasion.
"Today, I congratulated the Indian men's and women's teams for making history by winning the inaugural Kho-Kho World Cup. My heartfelt congratulations to both teams for bringing honor to India's traditional sport on a global stage and best of luck for their future endeavors. The entire nation is proud of you all," Mandaviya expressed on X.
Reflecting on the revival of traditional games in India, Mandaviya stated, "Traditional games exemplify resilience, community spirit, and importantly, preserve our cultural sporting values. The world has much to learn from the richness of these traditional games."
He also noted, "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has emphasized on numerous national platforms that we must provide the best exposure for traditional sports. Our teams are now receiving exceptional exposure and achieving remarkable success. I commend the spirit of our athletes and the traditional skills of both teams,” he added.
Looking ahead, with the 2036 Olympics in consideration for hosting by India, the Union Minister remarked that the momentum from all stakeholders should be sustained, with the next goal being the Asian Games 2026.
Among the 23 nations that competed in the Kho Kho World Cup 2025 in the national capital, India emerged victorious. This achievement is largely attributed to the month-long training camp held at the Sports Authority of India JLN Stadium.
Sumit Bhatia, the chief coach of the Indian women's team, shared, "On December 10, we initiated the camp at the SAI JLN Stadium with 60 players. From this group, we selected the top 15 players for both the men's and women's teams. The teams included players from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and the camp was vital in building team cohesion."
"The athletes underwent sports science assessments for the first time and received top-tier dietary and accommodation facilities from the Sports Authority of India. This support has been crucial to our success. As we prepare for the next World Cup scheduled in England four years from now, we aim to once again raise India's flag at the top of the podium," Bhatia concluded.
