New Delhi: India achieved a remarkable feat by securing both the men's and women's championships at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The Indian teams triumphed over Nepal with scores of 54-36 for the men and 78-40 for the women on Sunday.

Both Indian teams had previously faced Nepal in the Asian Kho Kho Championships in Assam last year, allowing them to understand their opponents' strengths and weaknesses.

The Indian women's team's seamless coordination and swift movements were pivotal in their decisive victory. They commenced the match with vigor in Turn 1, led by captain Priyanka Ingle, while Nepal struggled to counter the aggressive Indian offence.

With rapid touches and strategic dominance, India managed to eliminate Nepal seven times, amassing a substantial 35 points and preventing their opponents from achieving a single Dream Run. Although Nepal mounted a brief resurgence in Turn 2, spearheaded by Dipa BK's All Out, India maintained a 35-24 lead at halftime.

In Turn 3, India further asserted their superiority, concluding the period with a score of 73-24. The Player of the Match, Chaithra B, made a significant impact during Turn 4, helping India secure victory with a 38-point advantage.

"Today marks a historic achievement. I take great pride in the team's performance, as they exhibited remarkable confidence throughout the tournament," stated coach Sumit Bhatia. "We implemented several changes during the league stages and reserved certain strategies for the knockout rounds. For example, we limited the use of dives to minimize the risk of injury."

In the aftermath of this victory, 2023 Arjuna awardee and former captain Nasreen Shaikh announced her retirement.

In the men's final, India commenced with a robust performance in Turn 1, as Ramji Kashyap and Suyash Gargate set an impressive pace with their skydives and touches, establishing a commanding 26-0 lead and preventing Nepal from achieving a Dream Run.

Nepal made a determined effort in Turn 2, yet they were unable to disrupt India's dominance. Consistent touches from Janak Chand and Suraj Pujara allowed Nepal to reduce the deficit, but India maintained a 26-18 advantage at halftime.

During Turn 3, India further solidified their lead, with captain Pratik Waikar executing several skydives, supported by Kashyap and Ganpule, which elevated the score to 54-18.

In the final turn, Nepal sought to mount a comeback; however, India's defence, spearheaded by Waikar and Sachin Bhargo, remained resolute. Contributions from Mehul and Suman Barman were instrumental in securing the victory, as India concluded the match with a score of 54-36, thereby claiming the trophy.

"Nepal could have posed a threat to us, as chasing is their forte. However, we focused on rectifying our defensive errors from the first match," remarked captain Waikar. "This victory instils confidence in me that the growth of kho kho as a sport will continue unabated."

Coach Ashwini Kumar indicated that England is expected to host the next edition in 2027.

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