As the players took the field at the Railway Ground, Kazipet, the action was intense from the very first whistle. Speed, agility, sharp tactics and supreme confidence came together in spectacular fashion at the 58th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship. Organised by the Telangana Kho-Kho Association under the aegis of the Kho-Kho Federation of India, the championship witnessed thrilling contests right from day one. Maharashtra (men and women), along with West Bengal, Haryana and Punjab in the women’s section, and Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Pondicherry, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in the men’s section, registered commanding victories, many by innings and huge margins, setting the stage for high-voltage clashes in the coming rounds.
Maharashtra’s March of Victory: Men and Women Dominate by an Innings
Maharashtra’s men’s team delivered a performance befitting its rich legacy, crushing Manipur by 1 innings and 15 points (31–16). At halftime, Maharashtra had already built a massive 23-point lead (31–8), including 5 dream run points, which proved decisive. The standout performers were Shubham Thorat (2.10 min defence, 4 points), Suyash Gargade (1.30 min and 2 min defence) and Rudra Thopte (10 points), who maintained relentless pressure throughout. For Manipur, S. Rokeson (1 min defence) and K. H. Sachin (6 points) showed fighting spirit despite the defeat.
Women’s Section: Maharashtra Thrash Chhattisgarh in One-Sided Contest
In the women’s category, Maharashtra displayed complete supremacy, defeating Chhattisgarh by 1 innings and 23 points (35–12). Notably, no Maharashtra player was dismissed during the match. At halftime, Maharashtra enjoyed a commanding 22-point lead (28–6) and accumulated 7 dream run points across both innings. The victory was powered by consistent performances from Reshma Rathod (2.10 min defence, 4 points), Sarita Diva (2.10 min defence), Ashwini Shinde (1.50 min defence, 6 points), Priyanka Ingle (1.40 min defence, 6 points) and Maithili Pawar (1.50 min defence). For Chhattisgarh, Payal Patel (1 min defence) put up a brief but spirited effort.
Vidarbha’s Storming Run: Uttarakhand Overpowered
In the men’s section, Vidarbha continued its strong run, defeating Uttarakhand by 1 innings and 9 points (25–16) to move confidently into the next round. Faiz Pathan emerged as the match-winner with an outstanding display of 1.40 min defence and 10 points. He was well supported by Rahul Sahara (3.30 min and 1.30 min defence) and Yash Sadanshiv (2.10 min defence). Uttarakhand’s resistance came from Kolisha (1 min defence, 4 points) and Yogesh Kumar (4 points), but it was not enough to halt Vidarbha’s charge.
Punjab’s Power Show: Goa Outplayed Completely
In another women’s match, Punjab registered a resounding victory over Goa, winning by 1 innings and 33 points (37–4). Punjab’s dominance was evident throughout the contest, with Bandhab Kaur (6 points), Yashdeep (2.30 min defence, 4 points) and Snehpreet (3.15 min defence, 2 points) leading the charge. Goa’s Amisha (1 min defence) found little support as Punjab dictated terms from start to finish.
Other Key Results at a Glance
Men’s Section: Delhi defeated Sikkim by 1 innings and 83 points (87–4); Chhattisgarh beat Central Armed Police Force by 1 innings and 26 points (38–12); Pondicherry overcame Chandigarh by 1 innings and 25 points (37–12); Uttar Pradesh defeated Jammu & Kashmir by 14 points with 5 min 10 sec remaining (34–20); Gujarat outplayed Tripura by 1 innings and 30 points (40–10).
Women’s Section: Haryana defeated Bihar by 1 innings and 36 points (40–6).