The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), in partnership with Sports For All (SFA), has launched a nationwide KKFI program to promote Kho Kho among school students, marking a significant milestone in developing a sport indigenous to India ahead of the upcoming World Cup, to be held from January 13-19 in the National Capital.
Over the past month, the initiative has successfully engaged more than 7,000 school students across seven cities, including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, and Jaipur. This sport will also extend to Lucknow, Pune and Mumbai in the coming weeks, and having reached 30 schools across India, the programme has targeted 200 schools by January 11.
“Our mission is to transform Kho Kho from a traditional game to a globally recognized sport. By introducing this beautiful sport to young minds, we are not just developing players, but creating ambassadors who will carry forward the legacy of an incredible game that is indigenous to India, to every part of the world,” said Shri Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho Kho Federation of India.
Complementing the on-ground initiatives, the KKFI has launched a digital registration campaign in collaboration with the Society Of Digital Entrepreneurs (SODE). “The digital registration campaign has been a game-changer,” explained MS Tyagi, General Secretary of the Kho Kho Federation of India. “We have successfully reached over 7,000 cities and 1,200+ schools across India, from Telangana to Uttar Pradesh.”
This registration drive has seen active participation from students in classes 6 to 11, spanning diverse geographical regions. And with the Kho Kho World Cup on the horizon, these grassroots development initiatives are crucial in building national interest and creating a talent pipeline for India’s indigenous sport.
This also plays an important role in building the future of Kho Kho in India, with the country bidding for hosting the 2036 Olympics, these young children will play an important role in the future of Kho Kho on a global scale.
