Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday assured full support from the state government for establishing a state-level Residential Kho Kho Academy and an Under-16 Kho Kho League in Haryana. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship (Boys & Girls) 2025–26 at Keshav Park, Kurukshetra.
Inaugurating the prestigious national event, the Chief Minister expressed happiness over Haryana hosting the championship after a gap of more than 13 years. He noted that the presence of teams from across the country reflects the growing enthusiasm for Kho Kho nationwide.
“Kho Kho is not just a game; it is the fragrance of Indian soil. Promoting our traditional sports and taking them to the global stage is our collective responsibility,” said Shri Saini. He highlighted the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to prepare India for the 2036 Olympics and establish the nation as a global sporting power, adding that initiatives like Khelo India and Fit India are outcomes of this vision.
The Chief Minister assured Jawahar Singh Yadav, President of the Haryana Sports Kho Kho Association (HSKKA), of all possible state support for setting up the residential academy and launching the Under-16 league. He also announced a grant of ₹21 lakh to HSKKA for successfully organising the ongoing championship.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), expressed confidence that Kho Kho would be included in the Commonwealth Games 2030 (Ahmedabad) and Asian Games 2030, and featured as a demonstration sport in the 2032 Olympics.
The event was graced by Rajya Sabha MP Shri Subhash Barala, Haryana Cabinet Minister Shri Krishan Lal Panwar, BJP State President Shri Mohan Lal Badoli, KKFI General Secretary Shri Upkar Singh Virk, Dr. M.S. Tyagi (Chairman, Administration & Organization, KKFI), Shri Mahender Kamboj (General Secretary, HSKKA), Shri Rajkumar Saini (President, Kurukshetra Kho Kho Association), and other officials.
The championship features 70 teams—35 boys’ and 35 girls’—from 27 states, 5 Union Territories, and 3 associate member associations. Organised by HSKKA under the aegis of KKFI, the event has brought together around 1,100 players, supported by 300 coaches and technical officials.
Matches are being conducted on five playfields, including three mat fields, following a league-cum-knockout format, with 120 matches scheduled over the first three days. The opening day witnessed nearly 40 matches across both categories.
The pre-quarterfinals and quarterfinals will be played on February 3, while the championship will conclude on February 4 with the semi-finals and finals on the same day.
It may be recalled that the 34th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship was held at Simdega, Jharkhand, from September 28 to October 2, 2024, where Maharashtra emerged champions in both boys’ and girls’ categories.