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Key Points

The Kho Kho Federation of India has made history by allowing international players in Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3. Sudhanshu Mittal announced the league's expansion alongside a training program for global coaches. The Haryana government and SGT University pledged support for Kho Kho’s growth. This move aims to elevate Kho Kho’s global profile and competitive standards.

Key Points: Ultimate Kho Kho Opens to International Players for Season 3

  • Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3 starts Nov 2025 with international players
  • KKFI and SGT University sign MoU for sports development
  • Advanced coaching program attracts 230+ global participants
  • Haryana govt pledges support for Kho Kho growth
3 min read

International players eligible for Ultimate Kho Kho in a first: KKFI

KKFI announces international players eligible for Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3, boosting global appeal and competitive standards.

"Kho Kho has become a symbol of India’s sporting innovation and ambition. – Sudhanshu Mittal, KKFI President"

Gurugram, June 13

In a major development for the globalisation of Kho Kho, the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) announced that for the first time international players will be eligible for inclusion in the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) players' auction for the upcoming third season.

The announcement was made by KKFI President Sudhanshu Mittal during a press conference held at Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tercentenary (SGT) University on Friday. He also confirmed that the third season of Ultimate Kho Kho will commence from November 29, 2025, marking a new chapter for India's professional Kho Kho league, as per a press release from KKFI.

The press conference was held in the esteemed presence of Gaurav Gautam, Minister of State for Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship (IC), Sports (IC), Law and Legislative (Attached), Government of Haryana who appreciated the efforts done by KKFI for promoting Kho Kho on a global stage and improve the state of sports development in Haryana.

Other members who attended were Prof. Hemant Verma, Vice Chancellor, SGT University, Amrit Singh Chawla, Member, Governing Body, SGT University and Jawahar Singh Yadav, President, Haryana Kho Kho Federation who promised that Kho Kho will be promoted extensively in Haryana and more Kho Kho players will be promised more facilities and job opportunities. The announcement came alongside the Advanced Level III A Training Programme for Coaches and Technical Officials, which is currently underway at the SGT University campus.

Additionally, the Kho Kho Federation of India and SGT University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the commitment to developing educational and scientific resources for all indigenous sports, including Kho Kho.

Speaking at the press conference, Sudhanshu Mittal said, "Kho Kho has become a symbol of India's sporting innovation and ambition. With Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3 set to begin from November 29, 2025, we are proud to take another bold step by opening the league to international players for the first time. This move not only strengthens the competitive quality of the league but also reflects our vision of making India the global hub for Kho Kho"

The upcoming season of UKK will mark a major shift in the league's composition, as international players are expected to significantly raise the league's competitive profile and global visibility.

The press conference also spotlighted the ongoing Advanced Level III A training programme, a two-week intensive initiative hosted by KKFI and IKKF to strengthen the technical and scientific backbone of the sport. The programme has drawn over 230 participants, including 20-plus international coaches and technical officials from countries such as Sri Lanka, Iran, Australia, Korea, England, Malaysia, Nepal, and others. Notably, federations have been given the option to attend the courses online, making this the first hybrid-format training programme in which countries like Brazil and Peru attended.

The current programme, being held at SGT University, is split into two segments: training for coaches from June 2-11, and training for technical officials from June 12-15. The technical officials' course has drawn participation from over 100 Indian officials across 30 states and UTs, and 15 international officials, including representatives from Australia, Nepal, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and others.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the Kho Kho international players announcement:
R
Rahul K.
This is fantastic news! Kho Kho deserves global recognition as one of India's most exciting traditional sports. International players will raise the competition level and make Ultimate Kho Kho more entertaining. Hope to see players from South Asia first since they already have some familiarity with the game.
P
Priya M.
While I appreciate the global push, I hope KKFI ensures Indian players still get priority. Our local talent shouldn't get sidelined in their own traditional sport. Also, will there be proper training for international players to understand the nuances of Kho Kho? 🤔
A
Arjun S.
Great initiative! This reminds me of playing Kho Kho in school days. With international exposure, maybe someday it can become an Olympic sport like kabaddi. The hybrid training program is particularly impressive - shows how technology can help traditional sports go global.
N
Neha T.
As someone from Haryana, I'm proud to see our state taking lead in promoting indigenous sports! The job opportunities promised for players are much needed. Hope other states follow this model. International players will bring new energy to the game! 💪
V
Vikram J.
The MoU with SGT University is a smart move. We need proper sports science backing for traditional games. But I worry about commercialization - hope the soul of Kho Kho isn't lost in making it more 'entertaining' for global audiences. Balance is key.
S
Sunita R.
Wonderful to see participants from so many countries! The training program structure looks very professional. Maybe next step should be international Kho Kho tournaments? India vs Rest of World would be exciting! 😊 Just hope the basic rules remain unchanged - that's what makes our desi games special.

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