Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) marks the dawn of a NEW ERA for KHO KHO, a beloved and traditional Indian sport that has thrived at the grassroots level for generations. With the introduction of UKK, the sport took a quantum leap towards professionalization, mainstream recognition, and global exposure. India’s first-ever professional Kho Kho league, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), was envisioned to elevate the game to new heights by packaging it in a modern, competitive format.
Vision Behind Ultimate Kho Kho
The initiative to create Ultimate Kho Kho was born out of the desire to bring India’s indigenous sport into the mainstream, providing it with the same professional framework as other popular leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pro Kabaddi League. The primary goals included:
Internationalizing Kho Kho: Elevating the sport to international standards, making it palatable for a global audience while retaining its Indian essence.
Bridging Tradition and Modernity: Kho Kho has deep cultural roots in India, but UKK aimed to bring it from mud to mat, introducing technical advancements and media-savvy marketing strategies to appeal to a new generation of sports fans.
Empowering Young Talent: By providing a national platform, the league was designed to allow young Kho Kho players to become household names, akin to stars in cricket or kabaddi.
With high-profile corporate backing and entertainment industry stakeholders investing in franchises, the league quickly became a point of conversation and intrigue for sports fans across the country.
The Inception of Ultimate Kho Kho
The Ultimate Kho Kho League was conceptualized and promoted by Mr. Amit Burman, in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI). The league is designed to bring structure, professionalism, and global appeal to a sport that has been played for centuries across Indian schools, colleges, and communities. Mr. Burman’s vision, backed by KKFI’s administrative support under the leadership of President- Sudhanshu Mittal, CEO –Tenzing Niyogi and General Secretary -M.S. Tyagi, turned the league into a full-fledged, highly organized event.
KKFI had long aimed to take Kho Kho to greater heights, and Ultimate Kho Kho was the perfect vehicle to deliver on that dream. With its tagline, “India Maar Chalaang” (India takes a leap), UKK made the transition from mud fields to state-of-the-art indoor stadiums, where the game was played on specialized mats and poles—upgrading the sport both technically and visually.
Structure and Teams in Season 1
Ultimate Kho Kho’s inaugural season featured six teams from various parts of India, each representing different regions and corporate ownerships. These franchises brought in experienced and young players to compete at the highest level, aiming to claim the historic first UKK championship. The diversity of team owners, including both corporate heavyweights and entertainment industry personalities, infused UKK with excitement, investment, and media attention. Their participation helped elevate the profile of the sport on both traditional and digital platforms, ensuring that Kho Kho reached a broader audience.
Chennai Quick Guns – Owned by KLO Sports, this team represented the cultural heartland of Tamil Nadu and had a solid following right from the outset.
Gujarat Giants – A product of Adani Sportsline, the franchise capitalized on the industrial powerhouse’s strong fanbase in Gujarat. Mumbai Khiladis – With investors like Badshah, Punit Balan, and Janhavi Dhariwal Balan, this franchise from India’s financial capital banked on the city’s deep sports culture.
Odisha Juggernauts – Backed by the Odisha Sports Development and Promotion Company, this team became one of the most talked-about franchises due to their state’s strong emphasis on sports development.
Rajasthan Warriors – Owned by Capri Global, this franchise added a touch of royal Rajasthan’s warrior spirit to the competition.
Telugu Yoddhas – GMR Sports-owned, this team represented the vibrant sporting culture of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Season 1 Overview: The Format and Match Structure
The inaugural season spanned 18 action-packed days, from August 14, 2022, to September 4, 2022, and featured a round-robin format followed by knockout stages. The matches were held at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mahalunge, Pune—a venue known for hosting numerous prestigious sporting events. The structure of the matches was designed to maximize both competitive intensity and entertainment value.
Match Rules and Gameplay Innovations
Team Composition: Each team had 12 players, out of which 9 players took the field at any given time.
Duration: Matches consisted of two innings, each lasting 7 minutes.
Attacking and Defending: In each inning, one team attacked while the other defended. The goal was to tag the opponents, and the defenders had to avoid being tagged for as long as possible. A twist in the traditional format came through the introduction of a ‘Wazir’—a key player on each team who could move freely across the entire field, unlike other players restricted to their half.
Points System: Points were awarded for each successful tag, while defenders earned points by evading attackers for a set period.
Powerplay: The powerplay introduced strategic depth to the game, as it enabled teams to deploy their strongest defenders or attackers at critical junctures.
The blend of speed, agility, and tactical depth made Ultimate Kho Kho’s format fast-paced and riveting, keeping fans glued to the action for every minute.
Road to the Finale
Group Stage Highlights
The league commenced with enthusiasm, as fans were eager to witness their teams in action. Right from the first whistle, the league produced some scintillating moments.
Gujarat Giants demonstrated tactical superiority throughout the group stage, becoming one of the most consistent teams.
- Telugu Yoddhas, with a dynamic mix of seasoned players and youthful energy, quickly became fan favorites, known for their fearless attacking style.
- Odisha Juggernauts started cautiously but gained momentum in the later stages, consistently improving to secure a playoff spot.
- Chennai Quick Guns had moments of brilliance, though they struggled to find consistency.
- Mumbai Khiladis and Rajasthan Warriors had flashes of brilliance but couldn’t convert them into consistent results, leading to their exit before the playoffs.
Knockout Stage Drama
- The playoffs set the stage for high-octane matches as the top four teams—Gujarat Giants, Odisha Juggernauts, Telugu Yoddhas, and Chennai Quick Guns—battled for a spot in the final.
- In the first eliminator, Telugu Yoddhas outplayed Chennai Quick Guns in a thrilling encounter, sending them home and advancing to the next round.
- Gujarat Giants, the top-seeded team, faced off against Odisha Juggernauts in the qualifier, but Odisha’s tactical brilliance and cohesive defense saw them emerge victorious.
- Telugu Yoddhas defeated Gujarat Giants in the final eliminator, setting up a dream final between them and Odisha Juggernauts.
The Grand Finale: Odisha Juggernauts vs Telugu Yoddhas
- On September 4th, 2022, the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune became the stage for one of the most thrilling finales in recent Indian sports history. Odisha Juggernauts faced Telugu Yoddhas in a match that had all the ingredients of an epic showdown: skilled defenders, aggressive attackers, and tactical depth from both sides.
Match Breakdown
The inaugural edition of the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK), Odisha Juggernauts emerge as the champions. They defeated Telugu Yoddhas by the slimmest margin of 46-45 in a nail-biting final . It was a battle of defence with both sides edging past each other when they could defend. The first turn was level at 10-10 after Odisha opted to defend first. Though Odisha Juggernauts conceded some easy points while defending, they managed to end the first half with a three-point lead through some quality attacking. In the second half, the momentum shifted towards the Telugu Titans after they collected 21 points in the third turn to take a lead at 41-27. Sachin Bhargo added two key points for the Telugu outfit while keeping the Odisha attackers in the hunt of his touch for 2 minutes and 44 seconds. He was dismissed only when 84 seconds were left on the clock and the Telugu Yoddhas were in the driver’s seat with a 45-43 lead. Just halfway of a dream run was needed to win the title at that point.However, Sachin Lande spoiled the party for the Yoddhas with a breathtaking sky-dive to dismiss Avdhut Patil when just 14 seconds were left on the clock. Lande’s acrobatic efforts helped Odisha Juggernauts account for three points in the dying seconds and pip Telugu Yoddhas for the coveted trophy.
Awards and Accolades
The Ultimate Kho Kho league, known for its competitive spirit, also acknowledged individual brilliance across various categories.
- Player of the Tournament: Ramji Kashyap – Ramji looked as if he was in a different league altogether and was a cut above the rest throughout the season. There was nothing much to differentiate between his attacking and defensive skills and he proved to be the best in both departments with his all-round show.
- He was the standout performer for Chennai Quick Guns and had a 20% not-out ratio in the 10 matches that he played. With an average of above 10 points in each game he scored 108 attacking points, whereas, in the defence, he averaged 2:11 minutes in a match and had a defending time of 21:48 minutes on the mat.
- Young Player of the Tournament: Madan – Madan was a vital cog in the wheel for Chennai Quick Guns and was on top of his game. He oozed confidence with each passing game as an All-Rounder. The young lad scored 46 points with an average of 4.6 points per match. He left no stone unturned as had a not-out percentage of 5% in the tournament. He was equally good in the defence and had an average of 1:16 minutes and a total stay time of 12:36 minutes on the mat.
- Attacker of the Tournament: Abhinandan Patil – Abhinandan is a street-smart Attacker and looked ruthless in the attack. He was seen donning the fluorescent jersey as a Wazir for Gujarat Giants and he used his special powers to good effect. He was one of the valuable players for his side. He was spectacular throughout the tournament and scored points in different forms in the attack. With an average of 8.09 points, he scored 89 points in 11 matches.
- Defender of the Tournament: Deepak Madhav – Deepak was simply majestic on the mat as a Defender. He knew how to go about his job and used to tire the Attackers of the opposition side. It looked as if he got the dancing shoes on and was a reliable Defender for Telugu Yoddhas. In 12 matches, he spent 20:23 minutes defending on the mat and had an average of 1:42 minutes in these matches. His not-out percentage was also an impressive 9% in the competition.
Impact of Ultimate Kho Kho on Indian Sports
Revival of an Indigenous Sport
The successful conclusion of the inaugural season of Ultimate Kho Kho marked the revival of Kho Kho as a professional sport. By transitioning from mud to mat and pole to podium, UKK has not only attracted a new generation of athletes to the sport but has also rekindled nostalgia for those who grew up playing Kho Kho in school fields.
Financial and Media Success
The involvement of high-profile owners from the corporate and entertainment sectors added to the financial stability and media presence of the league. With live broadcasts and extensive marketing, UKK reached millions of viewers across the country. The league attracted sponsorship from major brands, ensuring financial backing for future seasons.
Empowering Athletes
The introduction of a professional league has empowered Kho Kho players who previously lacked a structured platform to showcase their talents. With financial rewards, media exposure, and professional training, young players now see a future in Kho Kho, much like how the IPL transformed the lives of budding cricketers.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Ultimate Kho Kho?
The overwhelming success of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 1 sets the stage for future growth. As the sport gains more attention domestically and internationally, there are plans to:
- Expand the league with more teams from across India.
- Improve the game’s infrastructure and training facilities.
- Increase fan engagement through digital platforms and grassroots initiatives.
- Foster the sport’s growth internationally by organizing exhibition matches abroad and collaborating with other nations to establish a global Kho Kho community.
With CEO Tenzing Niyogi and KKFI President Sudhanshu Mittal at the helm, the league is expected to continue its upward trajectory, making Kho Kho a sport to be reckoned with, not only in India but also on the world stage.
In conclusion, the inaugural season of Ultimate Kho Kho was more than just a sports league; it was a cultural renaissance. With Odisha Juggernauts crowned champions, the sport of Kho Kho is poised to scale new heights in the coming years.
UKK SEASON 2 DETAILED ARTICLE COMING UP SOON.