Traditional & Cultural Sports 🇮🇳Indiaancient

Kho Kho

Traditional Indian tag sport in which one team of 9 chasers try to tag runners from the opposing team on a rectangular field, using seated relay-style handoffs and directional running.

👥12 per team📐kho kho ground⏱~40 min🌤both

What is Kho Kho?

Kho Kho is one of the oldest traditional Indian tag sports, believed to originate from Maharashtra in prehistoric times. Modernised into competitive form in early 20th century. A match features 12 players per side; 9 on field at a time. One team ATTACKS (chasers) sitting on a central line facing alternate directions; the other team DEFENDS (runners) — 3 defenders in field at a time trying to avoid being tagged. Chaser can only run in one direction (which he faces when he sits) unless he turns via the central line's edge. Tagging is called 'Kho' — active chaser transfers rush by touching seated teammate. First innings 9 minutes; teams switch; team with more defenders eliminated wins. Kho Kho debuted at Asian Games 2018 as demonstration; first Kho Kho World Cup held Jan 2025 in New Delhi, India winning gold in both men's and women's divisions. International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF) formed 2019 promoting global expansion.

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Chasing team: eliminate all 3 defenders on field as quickly as possible (each defender re-enters after being out). Defending team: last as long as possible without being tagged. Team eliminating more defenders in fixed time wins.

Match structure

Innings 1: Team A chases, Team B defends 9 min. Innings 2: switch. Innings 3: Team A chases 9 min. Innings 4: switch. Best of 4 innings — team with higher eliminations wins.

Rules

Basic rules

9 chasers sit on central line
Alternating direction — each faces away from adjacent teammate; only 1 active chaser at a time.
1 active chaser runs
The 'runner' sprints in direction he's facing; cannot switch direction mid-run.
Kho
Active chaser transfers to seated teammate by touching them and saying 'Kho!'.
Direction change via post
Active chaser can turn around via ending at a post (touching the post) — but only one direction otherwise.
3 defenders in field at a time
When a defender is tagged, they leave and the next defender enters.
9 minutes per chasing innings
Number of defenders eliminated in that period counted.
Team with more total eliminations wins
Across both chasing innings; ties broken by higher single-innings elim.

Advanced rules

Pole turn
Chaser reaches the post and turns 180° there — legal way to reverse direction mid-chase without a Kho.
Foul: crossing central line
Chaser cannot cross the central line except at post ends — foul.
Foul: touching without Kho
Chaser must say/shout 'Kho' when tagging teammate — silence = foul.
Sudden turn (early / late)
Chaser can turn only at his end post — turning elsewhere = foul.
Defender may 'ring' (dodge in circle)
Around chaser to evade — legal defensive move.
3 minutes 'Free Time'
In new format IPKKL 2022, added 3-minute unlimited time for last-minute elimination.

Scoring

1 point per defender eliminated by tagging. Highest points across 2 chasing innings wins.

Action	Points
Defender tagged out	+1 to chasing team
Defender leaves the field boundary	+1
Foul by chaser	no elimination counted
9-minute innings	Points sum

Win condition · Team with more total eliminations across both chasing innings wins.

Playing area

Called

kho kho ground

Dimensions

27m × 16m (with 1.5m safe zone each end); central line 24m long; 8 chasers' cross-lines at 2.55m intervals along central line; 2 wooden posts (120 cm tall) each end.

Rectangular; central 'main line' along the length; 8 alternating 'cross-line' seats for chasers; posts at each end.

Equipment

Posts
2 wooden posts (~120 cm tall, 7 cm diameter) at each end of central line.
Field markings
Painted lines on ground: central line, cross-lines, free zones.
Whistle (for umpires)
Standard sports whistle.
Kit (jersey + shorts + shoes)
Traditional cotton kit or modern synthetic.

Officiating

Umpires positioned along central line + at posts; referee arbitrates disputes; scorers track eliminations.

2 Umpires (field)
1 Referee (chief)
Time Keeper
Scorer

Strategies

Kho selection (chasing)
Chose teammate best-positioned to intercept — geometry critical.
Defender ring dodges
Circle-around-chaser dodge maintains distance and forces multiple khos.
Time management
Save fastest chasers for late innings when scores are close.
Post management
Force defenders toward posts to trap them in corners.
Substitute rotation
Fresh defenders in 3rd/4th innings; fresh chasers save legs.

Terminology

Kho: Transfer of active chaser role to seated teammate via touch + verbal 'Kho'.
Runner / Attacker / Chaser: The team member trying to tag defenders.
Defender: Team member trying to evade being tagged.
Post: Wooden post at each end of central line — turning point.
Central Line: The 24m line along which chasers sit facing alternate directions.
Cross-line: The lines perpendicular to central line where chasers sit.
Ring: Defender's circular dodge around chaser.
Innings: 9-minute chasing period (2 per team per match).
Pole turn / Sudden turn: Chaser's 180° reversal at post — allows direction change.
Free Time: Extra 3-minute period at end of match in Ultimate Kho Kho for finale.

Major competitions

Kho Kho World Cup
quadrennial (planned) · worldwide · since 2025
Ultimate Kho Kho (professional league — India)
annual · India · since 2022
Asian Kho Kho Championship
biennial · Asia · since 1996
Indian National Championship
annual · India · since 1959
South Asian Games — Kho Kho
quadrennial · South Asia

Where it is played

Governing bodies

International Kho Kho FederationIKKF
Founded 2019 · New Delhi, India
Official site ↗
Kho Kho Federation of IndiaKKFI
Founded 1955 · New Delhi, India
Official site ↗
Asian Kho Kho Federation
Founded 1987 · Asia (regional)

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Sudhir Wangchuk (India) — Ultimate Kho Kho star; multi-time Indian champion
Amit Shirsat (India) — Indian national team veteran; captain 2010s
Rachana Sivaraj (India) — women's national champion
Nasreen (India) — key attacker Indian women's team
Aditi Deshpande (India) — Ultimate Kho Kho star
Nikhil Barete (India) — men's Kho Kho star, current national team

Records

First Kho Kho World Cup winners
India (men + women) — Gold both divisions (2025)
Most Indian National Championships
Maharashtra state — 40+ titles (2024)
Ultimate Kho Kho attendance
Season 1 total — 94 million TV viewers (2022) (2022)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Local sports club / school
Kho Kho widely taught in Indian schools — join club team.
2
Sprint training
5-10m accelerations + change-of-direction drills.
3
Sitting position + Kho practice
9 kids on line practicing Kho relays.

intermediate

1
District / State championships
Indian KKFI progression: District → State → National.
2
Ring dodges + reading chasers
Advanced defender skills.

advanced

1
National Championship
Indian KKFI Nationals — over 500 teams compete.
2
Ultimate Kho Kho (pro league)
6 franchises; player auction; ~₹40L per top player.
3
International / World Cup
IKKF World Cup + Asian Championship.

Frequently asked

What is Kho Kho?+

A traditional Indian tag sport where 9 chasers sit on a central line while trying to tag 3 defenders running around the field. The chase is transferred by 'Kho' — touching a seated teammate. Fast, tactical, 9 min per innings.

When was the first Kho Kho World Cup?+

January 2025 in New Delhi, India. India won gold in both men's and women's divisions. International Kho Kho Federation formed in 2019 to promote the sport globally.

How is Kho Kho different from Kabaddi?+

Both are Indian traditional team sports. Kabaddi: 7 raiders/defenders on court; raider must hold breath while raiding. Kho Kho: 9 chasers seated in line + 3 field defenders; tag by transferring Kho. Different mechanics entirely.

How long is a Kho Kho match?+

4 innings of 9 minutes each = 36 minutes of active play. Total match time ~35-40 min with breaks.

Is Kho Kho an Olympic sport?+

Not yet. Kho Kho was demonstration sport at Asian Games 2018. IKKF is pushing for Olympic recognition; first World Cup 2025 was a major step.

What is Ultimate Kho Kho?+

Professional Kho Kho league launched 2022 in India, with 6 franchises + player auction. Similar to IPL for cricket or Pro Kabaddi League. Attracted 94 million TV viewers in Season 1.

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.community