Kho-Kho in Bihar

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (Kho Kho Federation of India (khokhofederation.in), Wikipedia — Kho kho in India, Ultimate Kho Kho).

Overview

Governing body: KKFI
Origin: Ancient India
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Team
Total players listed: …

Kho-Kho is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The KKFI oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Kho-Kho is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

As a team sport, Kho-Kho in India is built around a club, district and state structure that culminates in national-level inter-state competition. State associations affiliated to the KKFI run age-group leagues from under-14 upwards, with the strongest pools historically coming from states with established grassroots infrastructure. Franchise leagues — where they exist — sit on top of this pyramid and have transformed athlete earnings, broadcast visibility and the professionalisation of coaching and support staff. School and college tournaments under SGFI and AIU remain the primary discovery route for players who do not come through a private academy.

At the grassroots, the route into Kho-Kho typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Kho-Kho originated in Ancient India, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Kho-Kho, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the KKFI, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Kho-Kho is played and developed across India under the KKFI, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How kho-kho evolved globally and took root in India.

Kho-Kho traces its modern origins to Ancient India. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and KKFI is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, kho-kho grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under KKFI, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Kho-Kho sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Indian Players

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Rules

A traditional Indian tag sport between two teams of 12 (9 on field at a time). Chasers sit in a row facing alternate directions and tag runners by hand while pursuing; a chaser can only run forward and must tag another chaser sitting behind to change direction. Runners try to avoid being tagged for their turn's duration; the side with fewer 'outs' or more time survived wins.

Authoritative rulebook: KKFI. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a kho-kho squad or competition.

Attackers / forwards
Primary scorers who operate closest to the opposition goal or scoring zone.
Midfielders / all-rounders
Link play between defence and attack; usually the highest work-rate positions.
Defenders
Deny the opposition space and possession in the defensive third.
Goalkeeper / last line
Specialist stopper with distinct kit and rules; the final line of defence.
Captain & vice-captain
On-field leadership, decision-making and communication with match officials.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in kho-kho at a federation-recognised event.

No equipment required — played barefoot on a rectangular field with two poles at either end

Governing body

National federation

KKFI

KKFI is the recognised national body for Kho-Kho in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for kho-kho. State associations under KKFI run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: Ancient India
Olympic: No
Category: Team

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Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the kho-kho calendar in India.

National Kho Kho Championship
Organized annually by the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) since 1955 (first All India Championship held in Vijayawada, 1959), contested for men, women and junior categories; the primary national-team selection pathway.
Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK)
A franchise-based professional league launched in 2022 in direct collaboration with KKFI (federation-backed, unlike some other sports' independent leagues), broadcast on Star Sports/Sony Sports with player auctions and performance contracts.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in kho-kho.

Kho Kho World Cup
India hosted and won the inaugural edition in January 2025 at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi (39 teams, 23 nations, over 800 participants).
Asian Kho Kho Championship
Run by the Asian Kho Kho Federation, formed 1987.
South Asian Games
Included since the India-hosted 2016 edition.

Leagues

Franchise and professional leagues catalogued for kho-kho. Full season data, champions and schedule filters are available in the sidebar.

Domestic · Since 2022
Ultimate Kho Kho
World's first franchise league for the indigenous sport of kho kho.

All leagues →

International Players

Globally recognised kho-kho athletes to know outside India.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)
8-time Ballon d'Or; 2022 World Cup winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
5-time Ballon d'Or; Euro 2016 champion.
Kylian Mbappé (France)
2018 World Cup winner; multiple Ligue 1 top scorer.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Manchester City forward; Premier League Golden Boot.
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper; Bayern Munich legend.

Records

Where to find India's official kho-kho record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Kho-Kho is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in kho-kho are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the KKFI.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in kho-kho are maintained by the KKFI.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for kho-kho and mirrored by KKFI.
National record holdersFederation register
KKFI publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in kho-kho — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Playing pathway through KKFI's junior-to-senior national championship structure
Ultimate Kho Kho as a genuine federation-backed professional career platform
Coaching and grassroots roles through KKFI, School Games Federation of India and All India University Sports Board programmes
Growing sports science and broadcast/media roles as the sport's commercial profile has expanded rapidly since 2022

Explore sports careers →Coaches directory →

Related academies

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No kho-kho academies are catalogued in the directory yet. Browse the full academy list or list your academy to appear here.

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for kho-kho athletes and academies.

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FAQs

Common questions about kho-kho in India.

Who governs Kho-Kho in India?▾

KKFI is the recognised national federation for Kho-Kho in India. State associations under KKFI run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Kho-Kho an Olympic sport?▾

Kho-Kho is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by KKFI.

How do I start playing Kho-Kho in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Kho-Kho athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Kho-Kho?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Kho-Kho athletes selected for international events?▾

KKFI runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Kho-Kho in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Kho-Kho in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Kho-Kho