KKFI has announced a strong Team India roster for the 2025 Kho Kho World Cup

INN/New Delhi, @Infodeaofficial

The final TEAM INDIA men’s and women’s teams for the forthcoming Kho Kho World Cup 2025, which will take place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi from January 13 to 19, were revealed Thursday by the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF). Twenty men’s and 19 women’s teams will compete in the inaugural edition of this massive event, which will bring teams from 23 different countries to our stunning nation for the competition.

Pratik Waikar will be in charge of the men’s squad. Inspired by his neighbor, the 2016 Eklavya Award winner started playing Kho Kho at the age of eight. He obtained a job through the sports quota, pursuing Kho Kho professionally despite having degrees in finance and computer science. He led Maharashtra to gold in the 56th Senior National Championship and captained Telugu Yoddhas to runners-up in the Ultimate Kho Kho League.

Having played for the men’s squad for more than 50 years, Ashwani Kumar Sharma has a wealth of expertise. His stellar record includes winning season 1 of UKK with the Odisha Juggernauts and leading the men’s squad to gold at the 2019 South Asian Games. He had already received recognition for his coaching abilities in 2014 when he was awarded Delhi’s finest coach. He is a tremendous asset as the club works toward its championship goals because of his broad experience and track record of accomplishment.

“For me, it’s a moment of my dreams. I had chills as the officials made the announcement. I was simply thrilled to hear my name called as the captain of the Indian squad after playing Kho Kho for a very long period. After the announcement, Pratilk said, “This is a huge achievement for me because leading our country at the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup on home soil is the biggest achievement of my career.”

Priyanka Ingle has been chosen to be the captain of the women’s team. Having participated in 23 Nationals over the course of 15 years, she has been a consistent member of the team. Her accomplishments include winning gold in the 4th Asian Kho Kho Championship 2022–2023, the Rani Laxmi Bai Award (2022 Senior Nationals), and the Ila Award (best sub-junior player). She holds an M. Com degree and is an all-arounder who works at the Mumbai Income Tax Department while adhering to strict training regimens.

Sumit Bhatia, a successful Kho Kho coach with numerous medals from the Senior National Championships, will coach the team. In addition to acting as an international referee at international competitions, he has won gold medals at the 3rd Asian Championship and the 12th South Asian Games and is the Chief Coach of the Women’s Team at the 4th Asian Kho Kho Championship 2023.

“I am thrilled to have been chosen as the captain of the Indian women’s squad for this inaugural World Cup. By entrusting me with this responsibility, everyone has demonstrated their immense faith in me. The women’s team captain, Priyanka Ingle, declared, “I will do everything in my power to earn their trust and win the gold medal for India.”

“As we get ready to host the first-ever World Cup, the selection of our national teams marks a historic moment for Kho Kho,” KKFI President Sudhanshu Mittal remarked during the press conference announcing the team. This competition, in which 23 nations are competing, will provide an international platform for India’s athletic legacy. After a demanding selection process, our men’s and women’s teams showcase the best players in the country. We are sure of producing outstanding performances under the direction of Pratik Waikar and Priyanka Ingle and our knowledgeable coaching staff. Kho Kho’s transformation from a traditional Indian sport to an international competitive event with aspirations to reach the Olympic level is demonstrated by this World Cup, which is more than just a competition.

KKFI General Secretary MS Tyagi stated. “We have made sure we have the best teams representing India through a rigorous and open selection procedure. The overwhelming response from the 23 participating countries demonstrates Kho Kho’s increasing popularity throughout the world. We are ready to host a historic event that will raise the bar for the sport thanks to the excellent facilities at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and the outstanding talent on both our men’s and women’s teams. This World Cup will help make Kho Kho a significant international sport in addition to showcasing India’s organizational prowess.

Following a rigorous training camp held at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium starting on December 10, 2024, the Team India squads were chosen. The final 15 for the men’s and women’s teams were chosen in large part by the KKFI Selection Committee, which was chaired by President Shri Sudhanshu Mittal and General Secretary Shri MS Tyagi. The coaching staff at the Training Camp, which included 60 male and 60 female players, provided them with competent advice.

TEAM INDIA MEN’S SQUAD

Pratik Waikar (Captain), Prabani Sabar, Mehul, Sachin Bhargo, Suyash Gargate, Ramji Kashyap, Siva Pothir Reddy, Aditya Ganpule, Gowtham M.K., Nikhil B, Akash Kumar, Subramani V., Suman Barman, Aniket Pote, S. Rokeson Singh

Standby: Akshay Bangare, Rajvardhan Shankar Patil, Vishwanath Janakiram.

TEAM INDIA WOMEN’S SQUAD

Priyanka Ingle (Captain), Ashwini Shinde, Reshma Rathore, Bhilar Devjibhai, Nirmala Bhati, Neeta Devi, Chaithra R., Subhashree Sing, Magai Majhi, Anshu Kumari, Vaishnavi Bajrang, Nasreen Shaikh, Meenu, Monika, Nazia Bibi

Standby: Sampada More, Ritika Siloriya, Priyanka Bhopi.