Pune, Dharashiv dominate 61st Senior State Kho Kho Championship
Beed (Maharashtra), December 22
The 61st Senior State Kho Kho Championship concluded in Beed, with Pune District men's team and Dharashiv District women's team clinching the top spots. The two-category event saw participation from 24 districts across Maharashtra, with 40 matches played in each category on a league-cum-knockout basis.
Mumbai Upnagar District was the men's category runner-up, while Pune District secured second place in the women's category. Thane and Nashik Districts shared third-place honours in the women's event, while Dharashiv and Sangli Districts did so in the men's event.
Chandrajit Jadhav, General Secretary, Maharashtra Kho Kho Association, said, "The 61st Senior State Kho Kho Championship showcased incredible talent from across Maharashtra. Congratulations to Pune and Dharashiv districts for their wins. We are excited for the upcoming national and international events."
The championship serves as a precursor to several key events, including the Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship (March 9-14, 2026), the 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship (Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026), the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship (Jan 11-15, 2026), and the 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship (Jan 31 - Feb 4, 2026).
India will host the first Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from March 9-14, 2026, while the 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship (Boys and Girls) 2025-26 is scheduled from December 31, 2025, to January 4, 2026, in Gunjur, Bengaluru, the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship (Men and Women) 2025-26 from January 11, 2026 to January 15, 2026, in Kazipet, Telangana, and the 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship (Boys and Girls) 2025-26 in Kurukshetra, Haryana from January 31, 2026 to February 4, 2026.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Fantastic news! Dharashiv women's team making us proud. Kho Kho is such an energetic and strategic game, truly a part of our Indian sporting heritage. Hope the coverage for the upcoming championships is good so more youngsters get inspired to take it up.
While it's good to see the event happening, I feel the article is a bit repetitive with the dates of future events. The focus should be more on the players' efforts and the matches themselves. Still, congratulations to all the winners and participants from across Maharashtra!
This is wonderful! 24 districts participating shows how popular Kho Kho is in Maharashtra. Hosting the first Commonwealth Championship is a huge step for the sport. As someone new to India, I find these traditional games fascinating and full of life.
Heartening to see districts like Dharashiv and Sangli performing so well alongside the usual big cities. This is what sports is all about. The calendar is packed with nationals and now a Commonwealth event – the future looks bright for Kho Kho players.
Played Kho Kho in school, brings back so many memories! 😊 It's more than just a game; it teaches agility, teamwork, and quick thinking. Glad to see it getting a proper championship structure. All the best for the nationals in Telangana and Karnataka!
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