If a teammate extends his arms or legs for the ball, it is considered illegal. The winning captain puts his hands up and points their index finger towards either the central line, signaling a chase, or the sidelines, signaling a defence. Eight players take up crouching positions in eight small rectangles formed by the intersection of the central and cross lanes. The active chaser can only run in one direction — they cannot turn back. To change direction, they touch a seated teammate and say “Kho” — that teammate becomes the new active chaser. Coordination, anticipation, and the ability to read the defenders’ movement are everything.
Kho Kho: How to Play and Rules
Like football, the concepts of yellow and red cards exist in Kho Kho. Cards are given out for violations like disorderly behaviour, overly aggressive tackles or for a variety of other technical fouls. Kho Kho was also demonstrated during the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi and the first-ever Asian Championship was held in Kolkata in 1996.
A chaser can also tag a fellow inactive chaser by saying “Kho,” handing over the chase. The tagged chaser becomes active, and the one who gave the “Kho” becomes inactive, sitting in the active chaser’s position. If the teams are tied at the end of the match, an additional innings is played to decide the winner. If there’s still no definite winner, both teams take a turn each and the side to win one point in the least amount of time emerges victorious.
These posts stand at a height of approximately 120 to 125 cm and help chasers shift direction under regulated conditions. Cross lanes measuring 35 to 40 cm cut across the central path at equal intervals. The structure is designed to ensure fair competition and enhance player coordination during timed intervals.
Sitting Kho Kho
The Mahabharata’s Pativrata Mahatmya Parva, the vrat vidhi, and why the banyan witnessed everything. Kho Kho has featured in the South Asian Games, which helped establish the Asian Kho Kho Federation in 1987. The SAF Games remain important for developing competitive Kho Kho outside India, particularly in Nepal where the sport is growing rapidly.
- Chasers pursue without crossing central lanes or changing direction, while defenders avoid tags within boundaries.
- However, they can tag one of their fellow inactive chasers while uttering the word ‘Kho’ to hand over the chase to them.
- Consecutive chasers cannot face in the same direction and have to take their positions facing opposite sidelines.
- The instant a ‘Kho’ is made, the tagged chaser becomes the active chaser and the one who gives the ‘Kho’ becomes inactive and has to sit down in the now active chaser’s position.
- Generally, Khos are given when a defender crosses over to the other end of the central lane, so tagging in a chaser facing that direction of the court is always the norm.
- The entire match happens on this one compact rectangle — intensity is constant.
Kho Kho World Cup: Women’s Teams
They must do so before an active chaser provides a “kho,” or touches a teammate to become the new chaser. Remaining dodgers on the defending team at the end of the first inning are then able to be dodgers in the second inning. The game continues for two innings or until a team is able to tag all of their opponents. They are responsible for chasing defenders and making tags while carefully observing rules on movement direction, avoiding central lane violations, and executing proper kho exchanges. Defenders enter the field in batches and aim to survive as long as possible without being tagged. The team must plan sequences, manage substitutions if needed, and adapt tactics depending on the game situation.
Furthermore, the incorporation of specialized textile weaves ensures improved grip, allowing players to make swift turns and changes in direction without slipping. The introduction of synthetic mats in kho kho gained prominence in the 1980s, revolutionizing the sport by providing a consistent and safe playing surface across different regions. The defenders send out three of their 12 players, or “dodgers,” out on the field at a time.
Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 Hall of Fame: Meet the top Defenders
The Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship is scheduled for 2026, with the sport targeting inclusion in the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The professional era began in August 2022 with the launch of the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK)league — six franchises, indoor format on a mat surface, televised on Sony Sports. The inaugural season attracted 64 million viewers, making it India’s third-most watched non-cricket sports league behind only Pro Kabaddi and the ISL. TheInternational Kho Kho Federation (IKKF) was formally affiliated with the KKFI in 2018 and has since grown membership from 6 countries in 2020 to over 55 by 2025. Each match has two innings with turns of seven minutes for both chasing and defending, including short breaks, making the full match approximately 30 to 35 minutes. The inaugural edition of the Kho Kho World Cup starts on January 13, Monday.
Kho Kho rules and regulations have undergone notable changes over the years, adapting to modern standards and competitive requirements. Originally, the activity was played informally on clay surfaces with flexible roles and undefined structures. The incorporation of free zones, central and cross lanes, as well as roles like wazir and phases like power play, adds precision and strategy. Kho Kho, a traditional Indian sport, has a rich history that dates back centuries.
- The team structure in Kho Kho consists of 15 players, from which 7 attackers take the field at a time.
- Kho-Kho rules outline the responsibilities of match officials and procedures for scoring and substitutions.
- Each side has a limited time to complete their turn, making every movement and decision on the field highly tactical.
- Cross lanes measuring 35 to 40 cm cut across the central path at equal intervals.
- The incorporation of free zones, central and cross lanes, as well as roles like wazir and phases like power play, adds precision and strategy.
- To change direction, they touch a seated teammate and say “Kho” — that teammate becomes the new active chaser.
Role of Chasers And Runners
Defenders aim to avoid contact for as long as possible, earning points for extended survival. Its appeal lies in the simplicity of setup, minimal equipment, and the excitement it generates on the field. Player movement on the court follows specific directional principles. Attackers must choose a path and commit to it, with defined actions allowed only under set conditions. In a breakthrough for the sport, the first Kho Kho World Cup 2025 will be held from January 13 to 19 in New Delhi. It will witness the participation of 24 countries from six continents, comprising 21 men’s and 20 women’s teams.
How the Game is played:
An adapted format where the active chaser does not need to run — the game is played with seated participants. Developed to make the sport accessible for players with physical disabilities. The formal structure of advanced match conduct includes detailed provisions that ensure discipline, clarity, and equal opportunity for both sides. These guidelines cover movement, substitutions, penalties, scoring, time management, and officiating roles. Every aspect is documented to eliminate ambiguity during competitive play.
Also, an attacker who tags the last remaining defender of a batch cannot continue the chase. They need to ‘Kho’ or tag in a team-mate to initiate the chase on the new batch of defenders. One of the world’s oldest tag sports — born on the fields of Maharashtra, now played across six continents.
Each match consists of two innings, and each inning includes both attacking and defending turns of seven minutes. Teams are composed of fifteen participants, with seven attackers and twelve defenders taking the field. If we trace the evolution of kho kho mats in India, it mirrors the journey of the sport itself. The kho kho mat stands not only as a functional playing surface but also as a testament to the spirit of the game and the resilience of its players throughout history. With the advent of modern materials, the construction of kho kho mats took a significant leap forward. Synthetic materials such as rubber, foam, and advanced fabrics started replacing traditional ones.
The foundation of each match lies in alternating turns of chasing and defending, where both sides apply tactics, endurance, and awareness to gain a scoring advantage. A chaser can only run in the direction in which they take their first step in, also called taking direction. The active chaser can also not cross over the central lane while chasing the defenders. Kho Kho combines athletic ability, reflex-based decision-making, and smart positioning into a competitive format suitable for players of all backgrounds. It begins with one side chasing and the other evading, with teams switching roles every seven minutes per turn. Attackers must follow defined routes and pass responsibility using legal actions such as kho and pole transitions.
Each match is structured into two innings, with every inning split into seven-minute phases of attacking and defending. Seven attackers enter the traditional Indian tag game field while defenders arrive in batches of three. Each tag earns two points, with bonuses for specific actions such as pole dives or sky dives.
A ninth player on the chasing team, which is referred as the chaser, stands beside one of the wooden poles that are positioned on opposite sides of the field. The chaser is the player who will pursue and attempt to tag the players on the opposing team. The chaser is allowed to run only in the direction that they are facing and in one direction through the center line where his eight teammates are positioned. They cannot stop and run in the opposite direction or cut across the line of teammates. In Kho Kho, the match begins with the active chaser trying to tag one of the three defenders.
Recent Comments