Kho-Kho, a traditional Indian sport that dates back to ancient India, is one of the oldest outdoor activities. Two teams consist of twelve players, out of which nine are the Chasing Team. Three additional (Defending Team) enter the field and sit on their knees (the Chasing Team). They try to avoid being touched or touched by any members of the opposing team. It is the second most popular Indian traditional tag game, Kabaddi.

It is a popular sport in South Asia, with a strong presence also in South Africa and England. Kho-kho, a traditional Indian game, is one of the oldest outdoor games. It dates back to ancient India. It is most popularly played by schoolchildren in India and Pakistan.

Histories

 

Although it is difficult to determine the origin of Kho Koho, historians believe that it is a modified version of Tag/Catch, which, in its simplest form, involves touching and chasing a person. Kho-Kho originated in Maharastra and was originally played on 'raths, or chariots. It was also known instead of.

The current appearance of the game dates back to 1914 when World War I ended. There were no dimensions for the playground or the poles that demarcate the centerline at the time. Also, the time factor was missing.

The Deccan Gymkhana Club of Pune, Maharashtra was so named and baptized in the great Indian leader Lokmanya Tilak and Bhai Narorkar. They drafted the first rules and regulations that would be used to symbolize the transformation of the game. The initial stage was the limit of the playground, but it lacked the poles that would mark the centerline. Instead, less skilled players were placed at the ends of this field and chasers ran around them in order to return to the Middlefield.

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The game captivated the attention of experts in the field even at that point. Experts quickly realized that the game requires fast and explosive movements, high levels of nerve reflexes, and extraordinary stamina. These qualities are typical of an elite athlete. All motor abilities are required, including speed, endurance, flexibility, and agility as well as strength, neuromuscular coordination, strength, and mobility. It is praised by media, spectators, and the press according to merit.

The fast-paced game fascinated so many spectators that the H.E. Governor of Bombay Presidency was captivated by it. Lord Willingdon was also impressed by the potentials and merits of the game. In 1923-24, the Inter-School Sports Organization was founded. Kho Kho was introduced in order to promote the sport at the grassroots level. It was a great move and the success of Kho Kho is largely due to the efforts of the Deccan Gymkhana, Hind Vijay Gymkhana.

Kho Kho took a step forward in 1938 when Akhil Maharashtra Sharirik Shikshan Mandal organised zonal sports at Akola. This attracted a huge response from budding organizers and enthusiasts. The sport was played with no poles and the team size was limited to nine players. The match began with three rounds of court play from one side to the other. These were just a few of the reforms that were implemented in 1943 and 1945.

In 1949, Kho kho was displayed in Sweden and Denmark. However, it had no effect on foreigners (students). The poles were introduced to the game in 1949 after their return. The three rounds at the start of the game were shortened to one round, from pole to pole. Even the first round was eliminated in 1951. 1955 saw the establishment of Akhil Bharatiya Kho Kho Mandal. In 1959-60, the first All India Kho Kho Championship took place at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh under the auspices of the Kho Kho Federation of India. In 1960-61, the Women's Championship was held in Kohlapur (Maharashtra).

1963 saw the introduction of individual prizes. Vishwanath Maikar was awarded the "Ekalavya" Man of the Tournament Award. Usha Anantham of Mysore claimed the Woman of the Tournament "Rani Laxmibai Award".

In 1969 and 1970, the competitions for junior age groups were held in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Two new categories were introduced: the "Abhimanyu award" was presented to the top youth player in each age group. In 1974, the Junior Girls Under 16 Years Tournament was held at Dewas in Madhya Pradesh. Two additional categories, Sub-Junior Boys and Girls Under 14 years, were also established. The "Bharat Award", and "Veer Bala Award," respectively, were given to the best Sub-Junior Boys & Girls. Shri Sudhir Parab, a Gujarati from Gujarat, was presented with the Arjuna Award in 1970.

The Federation Cup was organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India in 1982. For the first time, Kho Kho was represented in the Asian Games in 1982 in New Delhi. It was well-received by Asian countries. The great success of the Sports Authority of India and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports led to Govt. India enlisted their coaches to spread the sport of Kho Kho scientifically at the grass-root level.

It was a main feature at the 12th South Asian Games 2016, held in Guwahati (Assam) from 5-9 February 2016. This was possible because of Shri Rajeev Matta, President, KKFI & Secretary-General, IOA. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan were the participating countries, as well as Nepal, the host country of India. Shri. M. S. Tyagi was the Competition Director (Kho Kho). All Asian countries were grateful and made sure that the sport was introduced in their countries. The first Asian Championship was held in Calcutta (West Bengal) in 1996. It was followed by the 2nd Asian Championship, which took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2000. The 3rd Asian Championship took place in April 2016 at Indore (Madhya Pradesh). Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan were among the participants. The test series between India and England was held in January-February 2017 at three venues in India, Mumbai, Rajasthan, and New Delhi.

The 3rd South Asian Games saw the establishment of The Asian Kho Kho Federation in 1999. India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan were among the members. In 1996, the 1st Asian Championship took place in Kolkata. The second championship was held in Dhaka (Bangladesh) in 2012. This championship saw participation from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, and Japan.

Brij Haldania founded the Kho Kho Federation England in 2013. He had previously played for Rajasthan competitively before moving to the United Kingdom. He established relationships with M.S Tyagi, Sudhanshu Mittal (Asian Kho-Kho Federation), Rajeev Mehta, and Rajeev Mehta to help develop the game on an international level. The sport has seen great success thanks to the collaboration of these individuals. The 'International Kho-Kho Federation was established in 2018 to oversee and guide Kho-Kho around the world.

 

Kho Kho Rules

 

Each match is made up of two innings. Each inning consists of nine minutes of running and chasing. The court is divided into two teams. One team stands on its knees, eight in a row. A second-team faces the opposite direction. Three runners each run in the field. The team with the fastest time to reach all of the opponents wins. The field has a pole on each side. A runner can run between two players. However, the chaser cannot turn back or move between players. The chaser must follow the same route unless he touches one of the poles and runs in the opposite direction. If he is changing his direction by running around the pole, he may cross to the other side.

  1. Toss determines who is the runner and who is the chaser.
  2. Matches consist of two innings of defending and chasing turns. Each turn lasts 9 minutes.
  3. The turn may be halted by the captain of the chasing side before it is over.
  4. A match is won by the side with more points.
  5. If a defender is not in, he should go to the lobby and enter the sitting room.
  6. Unavoidable circumstances may result in an incomplete match that must be played at the same time with the same officials and players. The complete turn score should be added to the final score. Incomplete turns will result in the match starting over again. If the match is incomplete, the entire match must be replayed starting from the beginning.

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