New Delhi: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday felicitated the Indian men’s and women’s kho kho teams after their respective triumphs in the inaugural edition of the Kho World Cup which concluded in New Delhi last week. Both the men’s and the women’s teams defeated Nepal in their respective finals to clinch the titles in the inaugural edition of the Kho Kho World Cup.
Riding on the tournament’s success, Sports Minister Mandaviya expressed the Indian government’s desire to bring traditional sports like kho kho to a global audience and expand its outreach by getting it included in the Asian Games and the Olympics. Mandaviya said a collective effort from the players, federation and the Sports Ministry will be required to take kho kho to the 2036 Olympics.
“We did a splendid job of organising the Kho Kho World Cup and we need to make an effort that these players get a chance to play at the Asian Games,” Mandaviya said during the felicitation ceremony.
“The Government’s endeavour is also to take kho kho to the Olympics in 2036. For this, the players and coaches need to keep performing well, the federation has to keep managing well and the Sports Ministry will carry on supporting and helping to raise the level of players’ performances,” he added.
As per a report in news agency PTI, kho kho is one of the six sports that the Indian sports ministry plans to recommend if India’s bid for the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympics is accepted. T20 cricket, kabaddi, chess and squash are the other five sports that the Sports Ministry would pitch for. India has already submitted a ‘Letter of Intent’ to the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission to express their desire to host the 2036 Olympics.
Indian kho kho teams script history
Indian men’s and women’s teams created history by thrashing Nepal in their respective finals to win their maiden Kho Kho World Cup titles at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi last week. The Indian men’s team defeated Nepal 54-36 in a lop-sided summit clash while the Indian women’s team trounced Nepal women’s team 78-40 in their final.
Both the Indian men’s and the women’s teams remain undefeated throughout the tournament in what was a dominant display from the hosts. The Indian teams’ success helped kho kho gain massive popularity across the country and gave the traditional Indian sport the platform it deserved. Talking about the importance of traditional sports, Sports Minister Mandaviya said it upholds the country’s traditional values and enhances community spirit.
“Traditional games showcase the resilience, community spirit and, most importantly, upholds our traditional sporting value. The world has so much to learn from the richness of these traditional games,” said Mandaviya.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the players and the coaches of the Indian men’s and women’s teams after their respective triumphs in the Kho Kho World Cup 2025 and said the Indian government will push for the sport’s inclusion in the Asian Games and the 2036 Olympics. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
