Kho-Kho

   Introduction

Kho kho is a popular sport played in South Asian countries which apparently originated from ancient India. It ranked second most popular of all traditional tag games in the Indian subcontinent only next to kabbadi. Two teams attempt to capture members of the other team with the palm of the hand by tagging them. Kho Kho is a game that requires speed, intelligence, and teamwork; the game has a fairly good past behind it and is associated with several cultures.

      From Roots to Limelight

It is thought that kho kho has been played since the 4th century BC; we can even suggest abstract elements of kho kho explained in the stories of the Mahabharata, etc. Interestingly, it has been dated to a form known as Rathera played on ratha, which means chariot in Sanskrit in pre-modern times. Furthermore, this form of flexible kinesthetic engagement is thought to have existed as Kho Dhanwi Krida - i.e. the Krishna game, producing a sound Kho. The most recent sport project of the game was originated and created by the Deccan Gymkhana club of Pune in 1914. In addition, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the man wrote the first rule book of Kho-kho. It is noted that Kho-kho was also depicted and played in the Olympic Games Berlin 1936, alongside other Indian games, as well. Kho-kho has been a medal event in the South Asian Games since 2016 etc. But there are other kho kho championships of international scope. For example, the Asian Kho-Kho Championship with impressive coordination and efforts of the Kho Kho Federation of England, Kho Kho Federation of India etc, and has been claimed to travel the stadium sport outside South-Asia. Within South-Asian countries, simple projects, Khelo India and the National Games of India etc, have also added kho kho to national sport events on both the before, respectively. In conclusion, kho kho is emerging as a sport given its case of sport exists primarily as simple sport, affordability to the sport, but also sport that is derived from folklore, etc. 

     Playground 

1. Kho-kho Court - It is rectangular in shape. The measurements are 27 m × 16 m
2. Square- The area when the central and cross lanes meet one another is said to be a square or, it can be defined as the zone around the poles. There are altogether 8 squares. Each square is of dimensions 35 cm × 30 cm. All the chasers sit in squares.
3. Central alley – The central alley separates the court into 2 equal halves. It is the alley between both the poles. The dimension of the central court as well the central alley is normally 24 m × 30 cm.
4. Safety zone: The area outside the pole and inside the End line is the safety zone. The length of the safety zone shall be 1.50 m x 16 m.
5. Poles: Place two poles on the court surface; only one at each side is good enough. The total height of the pole from top to bottom has to be between 240 to 260 cm. In diameter, the two side poles should be around 40 cm.

     Rules

1. A team comprises fifteen players, of which only nine active members play the game, while the remaining sit on the bench. The choice of running or chasing is determined by a toss.

2. A team can play two innings at a time of 9-9 minutes each.

3. Inning turns and inning's ends halt run, each for the duration of 10 and 5 minutes.

4. Three of the runners should reach to the ground, and next three should as soon as they came out. If the active chaser does not out three runners successively, then he/she is supposed to pass kho to the sitting chaser.

5. If he gets injured during the game, arrangements will be made for a substitute to replace him.

6. The runner will not take anything if a chaser sits to scold him.

7. None of the chasers will stay or remain seated or wherever he/she is until he/she is kho.

8. Conversely, scored in favour of the other team when one of the runners is put out. The score is considered that a team has won the game if it scores more points compared to its opponent team

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9. Playing kho is simultaneous to making a decision and applying 'kho' during performing. Whenever a chasing team player commits a foul, he/she is forced to give a negative 'kho'.

10. You will be interested in that, an active chaser should keep face in the direction, in which he has started to chase; he can't turn his face. He is allowed to turn up to shoulders parallel to central line.

11. The active chaser cannot be tagged by the runner anywhere between these poles that extend the lane across and beyond. For this reason, the chaser is allowed to go any way in the free zone or turn

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12. If a runner has been declared out through a foul but not out and was out before the scheduled time, then they have to reach the ground in the same order.

13. If the score be even at the finish of the time as provided for in the schedule, an inning may be played off; but if the tie still exists, the game shall then be called a draw.

    Techniques

1. Providing Kho- Once a chaser calls kho for his teammate he also must designate the next chaser and in the same breath say the word ‘Kho’ out loud. 

2. Fake Kho - Many a times in order to catch runner, a chaser will fake Kho by making the runner believe that he is passing kho without actually doing so. This throws runner off track, and the chaser will ultimately catch him or get him out. 

3. Zig Zag Running- A "runner" runs criss cross through the long row of chasers sitting down in order to outsmart/overpower the chaser- as the chaser is not allowed to run through, and they will have to deal with the extra effort of having to pin down an elbowed runner.

4. Diving- if the runner is in reach of a chaser- then the chaser can dive in front, without falling on his knees. This skill is very important in kho-kho; it requires an exact idea and knowledge of of technique.

5. Taking direction- After receiving the kho, before a chaser takes their first step they need to pinpoint which way they would like to move-  because the first step is where they are going to direct their movement. 

  Kho-Kho Federation of India

Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) is the governing body of kho-kho Which was established in India. Sudhanshu Mittal serves as the President. All the state associations are members of the National Federation, which organizes the National championship for men, women and juniors every year. The last 56th edition, the 2024 National Kho-Kho Championship (India) held in Delhi was won by Maharashtra in both men and women. The Northeast India has been identified as the region of interest by KKFI for further expansion of kho-kho and intends to include a UKK team in the region. It is also instrumental in popularizing kho-kho on international platform in its bid to get the game into Asian Games. This championship was also hosted by KKFI and held in 2023 where the Asian Kho Kho Championship was held for the fourth time

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  Kho-Kho : A Global Perspective and Future

Kho Kho has ensured the brand’s prodigious involvement in the sports industry of India on the occasion of first edition. The new YouGov Report reveals that the league received a vast coverage of 164 million across all the different forms of media and the league now ranks among the three biggest non-cricket leagues in India. Changing perception about Kho-Kho, which was considered a rural sport, the league’s captivating new format has been popular among not only the rural audiences but the urban ones too, 70% of the Overall Impressions had come from SEC AB. However, the YouGov report on Sports show that there was gender equality in the viewership with 41 % of the audiences being female this is despite being a relatively new sport on television.   

      

   Conclusion 

Kho Kho is a game rich in its history but most dynamic in its contemporary form. It is a brilliant blend of the spirit and culture of India. For instance, it engages and can mobilize millions of people. Literally, Kho Kho can just be that one game growing, evolving, and attaining recognition on par with global stature. Kho Kho is only a game that requires widespread exposure and, hence, more recognition for India to feel proud. The onus for Kho Kho shall rest at the point of egging the world on to say, "India Maar Chalang."