The 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship 2025–26 is all set to begin at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, Gunjur, Bengaluru, from December 31 to January 4, with around 35 boys’ teams and an equal number of girls’ teams expected to compete for national honours.
Teams from across the country will take part in the championship, including Union Territories such as Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Delhi. Along with state teams, squads representing recognised Kho Kho Associations like Kolhapur, Vidarbha, and Madhya Bharat will also vie for the coveted titles. The tournament will be conducted in a league-cum-knockout format, as informed by the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI).
Defending champions Maharashtra will once again be in the spotlight after clinching both the boys’ and girls’ titles at the 43rd Junior National Kho Kho Championship held in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, in 2024.
As per the competition schedule, pre-quarterfinal matches in both boys’ and girls’ categories will be played on the morning of January 3, followed by quarterfinals in the afternoon. The semifinals are scheduled for the morning of January 4, with the finals to be held later the same day. Both boys’ and girls’ teams have been divided into eight groups each.
Speaking about the arrangements, Lokeshwara, President of the Karnataka State Kho Kho Association, said that extensive preparations have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the championship.
“Besides referees, around 25 officials, including technical officials, coaches, and association representatives, have been deployed. Boarding and lodging arrangements have been made within a 3–4 km radius of the stadium, and 10 buses have been arranged for the transportation of players,” he said.
Describing the championship as a celebration of the sport, Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho Kho Federation of India, said,
“It is a festival of Kho Kho where young talents from across the country compete for the title. This platform helps in identifying and recognising talent, which is crucial as we consistently work towards Kho Kho’s inclusion in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics.”
Upkar Singh Virk, General Secretary, KKFI, added,
“All preparations are in place. Our primary focus remains on the development of athletes and strengthening infrastructure.”
Echoing similar sentiments, M.S. Tyagi, Chairman (Administration & Organisation), KKFI, said,
“Watching these young athletes compete fills us with hope. Our responsibility is to guide and support them in every possible way.”
The Junior National Championship forms part of a packed national and international calendar for Kho Kho. India is set to host the first Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from March 9 to 14, 2026. Additionally, the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship (Men & Women) 2025–26 will be held in Kazipet, Telangana, from January 11 to 15, 2026, followed by the 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship (Boys & Girls) 2025–26 in Kurukshetra, Haryana, from January 31 to February 4, 2026.
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