Kho kho in India
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| Kho kho in India | |
|---|---|
| Country |  India |
| Governing body | Kho Kho Federation of India |
| National team | India national team |
| Club competitions | |
Ultimate Kho Kho (2022–present) | |
| International competitions | |
Kho kho is a popular traditional Indian game that is a variation of tag.[1] Within India, it is played between states in the National Games of India and Khelo India[2] and between franchise teams in the Ultimate Kho Kho league, which has the backing of the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI).[3][4] At the international level, India plays kho kho in the South Asian Games and the Kho Kho World Cup.[5]
Kho kho has been played for thousands of years within India, having been originally played by players on chariots (which were called raths) and been known as rathera. The game's rules were standardised in 1914, and it was demonstrated at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[5]
The latest (56th) edition of the National Championship, which is conducted annually by KKFI, concluded in Delhi on 1 April 2024 with Maharashtra winning both the men's and women's National titles.[6]
The sport was first introduced to the South Asian Games in the India-hosted 2016 edition.[5] In 2022, an Indian franchise league known as Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) began, featuring a modified format of kho kho.[4] In 2025, the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup was played in the UKK format; it was hosted and won by India.[7]
Performance record
Men's team
Kho Kho World Cup
| Year | Winner | Runners-up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | India |
 Nepal |
South Asian Games
| Year | Winner | Runners-up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | India |
 Bangladesh |
Nepal |
| 2019 | India |
Bangladesh |
Nepal |
Women's team
Kho Kho World Cup
| Year | Winner | Runners-up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | India |
Nepal |
South Asian Games
| Year | Winner | Runners-up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | India |
Bangladesh |
Nepal |
| 2019 | India |
Nepal |
Bangladesh |
Governance
The Kho Kho Federation of India administers kho kho within India.[8]
