India has announced its 15-member squads for both men’s and women’s teams ahead of the Kho Kho World Cup 2025.
The prestigious event is set to commence at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
With the support of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the event will see participation from a global field, including 20 men’s teams and 19 women’s teams.
The event, supported by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), will witness participation from 20 men’s teams and 19 women’s teams worldwide.
In Group A, the Indian men’s team will face off against Nepal, Peru, Brazil, and Bhutan, while the women’s team will square up against Iran, Malaysia, and South Korea in their group.
The top two squads from each group will progress to the quarter-finals.
The Indian men’s team will begin their campaign against Nepal on Monday, following the opening ceremony, while the women’s team will face South Korea on Tuesday in their first match.
Both teams have been selected after an extensive training camp held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi in December.
The Indian men’s team will be led by Pratik Waikar, who made his international debut in 2016.
The men’s team will be coached by Ashwani Kumar Sharma, a veteran with over five decades of experience.
Priyanka Ingle, an all-rounder, will captain the women’s team under the guidance of head coach Sumit Bhatia.
Kho Kho, along with other indigenous Indian sports like kabaddi and mallakhamb, was first demonstrated at the Berlin 1936 Olympics.
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The Indian men’s team will face Nepal on January 13, followed by matches against Brazil on January 14, Peru on January 15, and Bhutan on January 16. If they qualify, the quarterfinals will be held on January 17, leading to the semifinals on January 18 and the final on January 19.
