Maharashtra Men’s and Women National Kho Kho Champion

The Maharashtra team emerged as the undisputed champion at the 56th National Kho Kho Championship 2023-24, clinching both the men’s and women’s titles. The championship was held at Delhi’s Karnail Singh Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

Men’s Title:

Maharashtra vs Indian Railways In the men’s final, the Maharashtra team defeated the Indian Railway team by a narrow margin of 52-50 points after the two teams were tied at 32-32 points at the end of the stipulated time.

Women’s Title:

Maharashtra vs Airport Authority of India In the women’s category, the Maharashtra team, led by Sampada Maurya, outshone the Airport Authority of India team with a score of 18-16 points to claim the championship.

Semifinals and Prize Money

The Maharashtra men’s team defeated Kolhapur 30-28 in the semifinals, while Indian Railways overcame Odisha 24-22. In the women’s semifinals, Maharashtra beat Odisha 24-20, and the Airport Authority of India defeated Delhi 32-10. The winning teams received a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and a trophy, while the runners-up received Rs 2 lakh and a trophy.

Championship Overview

The 56th National Kho Kho Championship 2023-24 was organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India from March 28 to April 1, 2024. A total of 37 teams participated in both the men’s and women’s categories, divided into 8 groups each.

About Kho Kho

Kho Kho is a traditional Indian sport that is considered the second most popular after Kabaddi. It can be played both indoors and outdoors. The first Kho Kho competition was organized in 1914, and the first National Championship was held in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, in 1959.

Kho Kho has a rich history, with its inclusion as a demonstration sport in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics and the 3rd South Asian Federation Games in Kolkata in 1987. The Asian Kho Kho Federation was established during the latter event, and the first Asian-level games were organized as the Asian Kho Kho Federation Championship in Kolkata in 1996.

June 30 is observed as National/International Kho Kho Day to promote the game.

Governing Body

The Kho Kho Federation of India, established in 1955 and headquartered in New Delhi, is the governing body recognized by the Government of India. The current president is Sudhanshu Mittra.