Kho Kho is an ancient and traditional sport that started in India and is considered as one of the most popular sports. It is a simple game which does not require any investment. The term Kho is derived from a Sanskrit verb root syu- meaning “get up and go” which is the basic idea of the game as when a chaser says Kho to his team member, the motive is to release the player from sitting position and catch the runner.
History
It is believed that Kho Kho was originated in Maharashtra and many historians call it a modified version of ‘Run Chase’. Different sources also come up with the idea that it was probably derived from the different strategies and tactics of “Kurukshetra” war in Mahabharata. In the war, Kaurava Guru Dhronacharya plotted a Chakravyu- a special military defensive strategy and this style of fighting mirrors the concept of ring play which is a defensive tactic in this game. Thus, it is said that in ancient times, Kho Kho was played on ‘Rath’ that is the chariots.
Kho Kho is an ancient and traditional sport of India and is also considered as the oldest form of outdoor sport. Under Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) which is the primary sports body for the games, the first-ever Kho-Kho tournament took place in 1914 followed by a national championship in 1959 at Vijaywada, India. It can be said that the efforts of KKFI has led Kho Kho to flourish and is now played at different levels. In Berlin 1936 Olympic Games and at South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, Kho Kho was included as a demonstration sport. Asian Kho Kho Federation which helped Kho Kho to popularize in various neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka was formed at South Asian Federation Games.
How to play?
Basically, there are two teams and just like cricket, a toss takes place before the game starts. The toss winning team gets the chance to decide whether they want to chase or defend. Both the teams have around 12 players. 9 players of a team come and sit/kneel in a row facing opposite directions. Meanwhile, 3 players from another team enter the ground as the runners and can go around or in between the players in zigzag alignment which is not allowed to the other team which is chasing.
There are 2 innings in each match and is of 7 minutes each. Members of the chasing team have to touch the opponent in order to make him out. The chaser can change his position with a seated chaser, by simply touching him and saying “Kho” and thus chasers can be changed anytime during the game by the simple action.
A defender can be dismissed if touched by a chaser with palm, or if he goes out of the limits of the ground on his own or if he enters the ground late and the defenders enter in batches of 3 people and when the last defender is out then another batch of 3 is called. There are 2 referees standing on opposite sides.
Know more about the game
The field is rectangular and is 27 by 16 meters in length. There are two wooden poles in the middle of the field. 2,400 cm x 30 cm are the dimensions of the central lane, and across it lay 8 cross lanes or pairs with dimensions of 1,600 cm x 35 cm. Each pair of a line is 30 cm.
Kho Kho Field
The equipment used in Kho Kho are strings, metallic measuring tape, lime powder, wire nails, two watches, poles, types of rings of inner circumference 30 cm and 40 cm and whistle.
There are some rules which were framed at the beginning of the 20th century at Gymkhana Poona and they need to be followed such as:
The Chasing or the runner is decided by a toss.
A match is of 2 innings.
The Chaser is not allowed to go through the line formed by the team but a runner can run through the line made by members of the chasing team.
The Chaser needs to touch the runner with the palm, in case touch with any other part of the body can lead to a penalty.
Present Day Situation
Kho Kho is now stretching the wings across the world and is now played by Indian communities in South Africa as well. Indian Kho Kho players have achieved great success and name due to their efforts. Players are required to have speed and quick reaction, good footwork, a judgment of direction and team coordination. Some of the very famous Kho Kho players include Satish Rai, Sarika Kale, Pankaj Malhotra, Mandakini Majhi, Praveen Kumar etc.
There are many upcoming events which will surely help Kho Kho, a traditional sport to widen its wings. Some of the events include:
39th Junior National Kho Kho Championship which will be held from 30th July 2019 to 2nd August 2019 in Chattisgarh.
53rd Senior National Kho Kho Championship which will be held from 1st September 2019 to 4th September 2019 in Maharashtra.
3rd Khelo India Youth Games 2019 from 1st November 2019 to 10th November 2019.
India will also have some test series with Sri Lanka, Dubai, Korea in the upcoming months.
There will be soon Kho Kho league just like Pro- Kabaddi League in association with Kho Kho Federation of India and it will be called ‘Ultimate Kho Kho’. Hopefully, the youth will put on their skills in front and come in the field to build records.
