Kho Kho World Cup 2025

PRELIMS – SPORTS

Context: India achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first champions in both the men’s and women’s categories at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025.

Details About Kho Kho World Cup 2025:

Venue: The event was hosted at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India.

Significance:
This marked the debut edition of the Kho Kho World Cup, making it a landmark event for the sport.

Organizers:
The tournament was organized jointly by the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF).

Mascots:

• Tejas (Men’s Team): A blue gazelle symbolizing energy and brilliance.
• Tara (Women’s Team): An orange gazelle representing aspiration and guidance.

Tournament Structure:

• Group Stage: Teams were split into four groups, competing in a round-robin format.
• Knockout Stage: The top two teams from each group progressed to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the final.
• Matches adhered to the fast-paced, seven-a-side format, similar to Ultimate Kho Kho.

Results:

Category	Winner	Runner-Up	Score
Men’s	India	Nepal	54-36
Women’s	India	Nepal	78-40

About the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF):

• Established: 2018, with the aim of elevating Kho Kho to an internationally recognized sport.
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
• Mission: To globalize Kho Kho, promoting its cultural and competitive aspects.
• Key Activities:
  • Hosting international events like the Kho Kho World Cup.
  • Standardizing rules and regulations for the sport.
  • Collaborating with national associations to expand its global reach.