New Delhi, August 29
The capital witnessed the launch of the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) Junior Championship on the National Sports Day on Friday.
The championship, a grassroots initiative for India's most popular indigenous sports, seeks to hone potential stars of the future.
The two-day tournament is bringing together 32 school teams from Delhi and NCR, offering a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and compete for top honours, as per a UKK press release.
Driven by the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) League, the tournament will fuel the grassroots fire by bringing India's traditional sport into schools, with prize money worth Rs 31,000 for winners, Rs 21,000 for runners-up, and Rs 11,000 each for two third-place finishers. More than 1,500 students will unite over two days to celebrate India's oldest indigenous sport, turning the arena into a festival of energy, pride, and passion.
The matches will be played in the fast-paced UKK format, introduced in 2022, which has reinvented Kho Kho for a new generation with TV-ready rules, speed, and thrill. It's no longer just a schoolyard chase, it's a high-octane sport designed to grip both players and audiences.
Highlighting the impact, Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) President Sudhanshu Mittal said, "Kho Kho has always been about speed, strategy, and teamwork. With platforms like the UKK Junior Championship, we're seeing young players connect deeply with the sport. As India pushes for indigenous games to gain ground in global events like the Asian Games and the Olympics, grassroots tournaments like this are vital."
The Junior Cup is just the beginning of an action-packed year for Kho Kho. With Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3 launching on November 29, 2025, and foreign players set to join the league for the first time, the sport is sprinting toward a bigger, bolder stage, the release said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally! Our indigenous games need more recognition. While cricket gets all the attention, sports like Kho Kho are part of our cultural heritage. Hope this inspires more schools across India to take it seriously ðŸƒâ€â™€ï¸ðŸ’¨
The prize money is good motivation for young players. But I hope the focus remains on skill development rather than just competition. Grassroots programs should emphasize coaching and infrastructure too.
As someone new to India, I find Kho Kho fascinating! The UKK format sounds exciting with its TV-ready rules. Looking forward to watching Season 3 with international players. More power to indigenous sports! 🙌
Bahut badhiya initiative! Kho Kho was the highlight of our PT periods. Glad to see it getting organized recognition. Hope they expand to other cities soon. Delhi NCR kids are lucky to get this opportunity first.
ï¸1500 students participating! That's massive energy. Kho Kho teaches teamwork like no other sport. Hope this leads to proper coaching academies and maybe even Olympic recognition someday. Dream big! 💫
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