Around 35 boys’ and as many girls’ teams are expected to participate in the 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship 2025-26, scheduled from December 31 to January 4 at Gunjur, Bengaluru.
Participating Union Territories include Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Delhi. In addition to state teams, teams representing recognised Kho Kho Associations like Kolhapur, Vidarbha, and Madhya Bharat will also compete for the title in this league-cum-knockout format.
All eyes will be on Maharashtra, which clinched both the boys’ and girls’ titles in the 43rd Junior National Kho Kho Championship held in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, in 2024.
Match Schedule:
- The pre-quarterfinal matches in both boys’ and girls’ categories will take place in the morning.
- Quarterfinal matches will be held in the afternoon on January 3.
- Semifinals are set for the morning of January 4, followed by the finals later that day.
The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) has announced that both boys’ and girls’ teams have been divided into eight groups each.
“Other than referees, as many as 25 officials, including technical officials, coaches, and officials from the association, have been deployed for the preparations and smooth conduct of the Championship. Arrangements for the boarding and lodging of players have been made within a 3-4 km radius of the stadium, and 10 buses have been deployed for their conveyance,” said Lokeshwara, President of Karnataka State Kho Kho Association.
The Championship is being held at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Gunjur.
“It is a festival of Kho Kho in which young talents from all across the country compete for the title. It is also a platform for junior talents to showcase their skills. Identification of the talent and its recognition plays an important role in promoting sport and sportspersons as we religiously aim for Kho Kho’s inclusion in Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Olympics,” said Sudhanshu Mittal, President of Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI).
General Secretary of KKFI, Upkar Singh Virk, stated, “All preparations are in place for the smooth conduct of the Championship. Our focus is on the development of athletes and infrastructure.”
M.S. Tyagi, Chairman of Administration & Organisation, KKFI, mentioned, “Watching these young athletes compete fills me with hope. Our role is to guide and support them in all possible ways.”
India will host the first Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from March 9-14, 2026, the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship (Men & Women) 2025-26 from January 11-15, 2026, in Kazipet, Telangana, and the 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship (Boys & Girls) 2025-26 in Kurukshetra, Haryana, from January 31, 2026, to February 4, 2026.