This pipeline of young talent feeds both UKK franchises and the national team. This is the format played at national championships, Asian Championships, and the World Cup. From there, the tournament will follow a knockout format, where the winning teams move to the semifinals and then the finals. The Men’s Kho Kho World Cup 2025 will start with a round-robin stage and then move to knockout matches.

About the Kho Kho Federation of India

• Each adjustment and individual choice played into a larger tactical framework, demonstrating the depth of planning and discipline brought by coaching staff and athletes alike.
• The final round of the 2025 international championship marked a defining moment in the history of the sport.
• The defending side can score bonus points by surviving long enough (“Dream Runs” in UKK format).
• The Indian men’s team will open their campaign in the Kho Kho World Cup 2025 on January 13 against Nepal , followed by their match against Brazil on January 14.
• One of the world’s oldest tag sports — born on the fields of Maharashtra, now played across six continents.

From there, the tournament progresses to the semifinals and finals, ensuring high-stakes competition. Fans can expect nail-biting encounters as teams battle it out for the coveted title. The final match between India and Nepal will exclusively be streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

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• A total of 24 nations, including host India, will compete in this inaugural championship.
• The inaugural season attracted 64 million viewers, making it India’s third-most watched non-cricket sports league behind only Pro Kabaddi and the ISL.
• Her ability to break through lines and maintain momentum under pressure made her a vital part of the strategy of the squad.
• The scoring in the championship match particularly stood out, with high point differences that sealed their legacy in the first world edition.
• Quick tagging, efficient chasing, and structured rotation created continuous pressure, forcing errors and disrupting the rhythm of the Nepali squads.
• Their performance will likely motivate other nations to invest in infrastructure, coaching, and grassroots initiatives.

The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 matches will be telecast on the Star Sports 1 HD and Star Sports First channels. One can live stream the matches on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will qualify for the quarterfinals.

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India won both the men’s and women’s titles, going unbeaten throughout the tournament. Nepal reached both finals — the first time any Nepali team had appeared in a World Cup final in any sport. The Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship is scheduled for 2026, with the sport targeting inclusion in the 2030 Commonwealth Games. With 39 teams from across the globe competing for glory, this event marks a major milestone in promoting Kho Kho as an internationally recognised sport.

With 81 total matches played, the outcomes brought clarity to the hierarchy among participating nations. The Kho Kho result from each phase displayed a rising standard of athleticism and global reach. India’s men’s team will compete against heavyweights Nepal to start their campaign on Monday while the women’s team will kick off its season against South Korea on January 14. Below, we have collected all the information you need to know about the tournament in one place. The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 is set to mark a historic milestone in the global journey of India indigenous sport.

With the host nation securing titles in both brackets, the championship set a high competitive standard and established a clear benchmark for future participants. These victories reflect not only individual talent and the success of structured training programs and strategic development on the national level. The global championship concluded with remarkable action, bringing together 20 male and 19 female line-ups from across continents. Matches took place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, offering an elite indoor setting for a fast-paced format. From the initial group rounds to the knockout stages, each fixture reflected a blend of regional pride and international competitiveness.

SAF / South Asian Games

In the final round of the female division, Nasreen emerged as the standout athlete with an exceptional performance that elevated the tempo of the match from the very start. Her ability to break through lines and maintain momentum under pressure made her a vital part of the strategy of the squad. The presence of Nasreen was felt across both innings—her attacking runs and alertness during defensive phases international kho kho tournament ensured continuous scoring and minimal lapses. Strategic planning, swift transitions, and coordinated movement dominated the final rounds. Each team entered the mat with winning momentum, having cleared the semi-finals against South Africa. The event featured a mix of defensive resilience and attacking precision that defined every moment.

Fans outside India might need to use a VPN to access the online streaming platform. Free sports tools, live cricket events, and in-depth analysis — all in one place. India is hosting the inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship in March 2026, with 24+ nations expected.

Men vs Women Team Results

An adapted format where the active chaser does not need to run — the game is played with seated participants. Developed to make the sport accessible for players with physical disabilities. Yes, both divisions from the host country remained unbeaten throughout the event and won their respective final matches against Nepal with clear margins. The recognition of Nasreen as the best performer of the final underscored the importance of individual brilliance in team success. It added a personal milestone to what was already a historic moment for the national squad. Kho Kho, along with other indigenous Indian sports like kabaddi and mallakhamb, was first demonstrated at the Berlin 1936 Olympics.

The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) was founded in 1958 in Pune, Maharashtra, and is responsible for managing Kho Kho in India. Recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the federation organizes national tournaments and promotes the sport in schools. The game, which features two teams of nine players each, is known for its fast-paced action and demands quick reflexes. Kho Kho emphasizes gender equality, with both men and women competing at the same level.

To change direction, they touch a seated teammate and say “Kho” — that teammate becomes the new active chaser. Coordination, anticipation, and the ability to read the defenders’ movement are everything. One of the world’s oldest tag sports — born on the fields of Maharashtra, now played across six continents.

All match outcomes, scores, and standings can be found in the official points table and results summary of the 2025 global tournament hosted in New Delhi. Aditya Ganpule was also at his finest, and the home team’s collective effort took the score to entering the final turn of the match – and the tournament. India has been chosen to host the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup in 2025, which will bring together 24 countries from six continents. Both the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and the International Kho Kho Federation have confirmed this exciting event. India will host the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup, starting on Monday (January 13) and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

To further promote Kho Kho, a large membership drive will be held, aiming to register 50 lakh (5 million) young players before the tournament. This campaign is designed to encourage children and teenagers to take part in Kho Kho and strengthen the sport’s future. In preparation for the World Cup, the KKFI will launch a program to introduce Kho Kho to 200 schools in 10 cities across India. This will help spread the sport at a grassroots level and get more young people involved. All the matches in the Men’s Kho Kho World Cup 2025 will be hosted at a single venue, Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. India will be looking to secure their first World Cup title in both categories.

The scoring in the championship match particularly stood out, with high point differences that sealed their legacy in the first world edition. The event will run until January 19, featuring both men’s and women’s competitions, and aims to make Kho Kho an internationally recognized sport. A total of 24 nations, including host India, will compete in this inaugural championship. The tournament will be played under standard international rules, including men and women team categories. The professional era began in August 2022 with the launch of the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK)league — six franchises, indoor format on a mat surface, televised on Sony Sports.

The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 will begin with the group stages, followed by knockout rounds, with the finals scheduled for January 19. During the group stage, each team will play one match against every other team in its group. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The female final began with immediate offensive aggression, setting the tone for a dominant performance. In the male final, the early exchanges were balanced, but adjustments in defensive rotations and chase coordination gradually shifted the outcome.