Bhubaneswar, Jan 11 (NationPress) Three players from Odisha have been selected to compete for India at the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup, which is scheduled to occur in New Delhi.
Pabani Sabar has earned a spot on the men's Indian Kho Kho team, while Magai Majhi and Subhashree Sing will represent the women's Indian Kho Kho team. The championship will feature a total of 20 men's and 19 women's teams, taking place from January 13 to 19 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
The three athletes have previously competed for Odisha in the Senior National Championships and have been honing their skills at the Odisha AM/NS Kho Kho High Performance Centre (HPC) for the past eight months, under the guidance of Sanjeev Sharma, the coach of the Odisha Kho Kho HPC.
Sharma praised the trio, stating, "I have been with these players for the past three and a half years. I worked closely with them when I was the head coach of the Odisha state team, and now as the head coach of the HPC. Pabani has consistently been an all-rounder and an exceptional player. His dedication and hard work were evident as he was part of the team that secured gold at the Ultimate Kho Kho Tournament. I was always optimistic about his selection for the World Cup, and I am thrilled for him."
Regarding Magai and Subhashree from the women's team, he noted the intense competition they faced in making the World Cup squad. "The competition among the girls was undeniably tough. I often told Magai, who hails from a tribal region, that her speed and agility set her apart, and she has the potential to be India's top attacker. I am overjoyed that she has been chosen to play as an Indian attacker. Subhashree, like Pabani, is also an all-rounder and excels in both offense and defense, so I am delighted to see her in the main squad."
Sharma expressed confidence in their abilities, saying, "Considering their past performances, I believe one of these athletes will certainly earn the player-of-the-match award in one of the upcoming World Cup games."
Earlier this month, the Odisha government announced its commitment to sponsor the national Kho Kho team for the next three years, from January 2025 to December 2027.
Sharma expressed gratitude to the Odisha government for its support of the national team, stating, "It's a significant achievement that the government is investing millions in the national team. This not only aids the team but also inspires young individuals to embrace Kho Kho and provides them with financial support."
In addition to the three athletes, the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup will also feature four technical officials from Odisha as part of the event.
