Kho Kho is an ancient and popular sport of India, which has been played for centur9ies in different parts of the country. It is a sport that not only tests physical ability but also challenges the mental agility and strategic thinking of the players. This game is played by both men and women, even in various school or college annual sports day this game is played by boys and girls.
The game of Kho kho can be played indoor or outdoor on flat ground all you need a required space and 9 players in each team. Once you have met the basic requirements, you can play Kho Kho matches in your free time and entertain yourself!
Let us take a detailed look at the various aspects of Kho kho sport and know more about what it is? How this game is played? Know about Kho kho ground and rules… we have explained everything in detail, so have a look at the information below.
History and Origin
The history of Kho-kho is quite old and linked to the ancient civilization of the Indian subcontinent. It is believed that the game originated in the state of Maharashtra, where it was locally known as “Ran-Patai”. Over time, the game gradually spread across the different part of country and became popular in different regions with different names and among them one is Kho Kho.
In the early 20th century, Kho-kho was given the form of an organized sport. In 1956, the Kho-Kho Federation of India (known as KKFI) was established, which formulated standard rules and regulations for the Kho-Kho game and since then, this game has made its mark as a major sport in various states of India and is now gaining recognition internationally as well.
Playing Field and Equipment
Kho-Kho can be played in an open space and it can be anywhere like you can play it inside the controlled environment in a big hall or you can setup it outside in a open ground. Informally you can play it anywhere on any flat surface like green ground, on street, in a park etc. But professionally, the Kho Kho ground should be well-maintained having a central line and poles at both ends, and surface should be spongy or covered with mats.
Kho Kho is played on a simple field measuring 29 meters in length and 16 meters in width. There is a central line in the middle of the field on which 8 points are made. These 8 points are spaced 2.30 meters apart and are used for the players to sit.
Apart from that, 2 wooden poles are installed at both ends which the player of runner team use to change the direction. The runner will go behind the pole and change direction.
The equipment required for the game is minimal. Players are only required to wear comfortable sports clothes and shoes. A whistle is used by the referee to control the game.
Rules and Procedure of the Game
The first rule book of Kho-kho was written by ‘Bal Gangadhar Tilak‘, and he is also considered as the father of Kho-Kho. So far a lot of development has been made in this game to make it more interesting at national and international level. Here are the Kho Kho rules and how it is played….
Rule 1: In the game of Kho-Kno, there are 12 players in each team but only play 9 at a time on the field. From team 1 (chaser’s team), 8 players will sit on the ground while 1 will chase. From team 2 (runner team), group of 3 players will join the court at a time and try to defend so chaser can’t touch. Upon out, next group of 3 players from defending team / runner team will join the court and play.
Rule 2: The game is played in two innings, with each innings lasting 9 minutes.
Rule 3: One team plays the role of “chasers”, while the other team plays the role of “runners”. The aim of the chasers is to catch the runners, while the runners have to escape.
Rule 4: The 8 chasers sit on the central line, facing alternate directions while one player stands and chases the runners. Only the standing player can touch the runners. The sitting player can give his partner a “kho” to allow him to chase them.
Rule 5: The runners have to run around the field and escape from the chasers. If a runner is touched, he is out. The game continues until all the runners are out or the stipulated time expires.
Rule 6: More important rule, the chaser can chase a runner or runners only in 1 direction, he can’t change the direction and if the chaser want to change, then chaser has to go at the end, go behind the pole and then change direction.
So overall the chaser team will be on ground with 9 players… out of them 8 will sit and 1 ready to chase the group of 3 runners. The chaser runs in only 1 direction (can’t change the direction) and his job is to touch the defender at any cost to kick him out of the ground.
As this is a team game, the chaser pass this job to other one by giving “kho” and now other become a chaser and try to touch the defender player. One touch means 1 score and the runner player will be out of the ground, same if the chaser touches other 2 then the chaser team will get 1 more score and after that new group of 3 players from defending team join the court.
The game continues for 9 minutes and aim is to all out the defending players. Meanwhile the defending team also has chance to earn scores by saving himself from the chaser touch. If defender continuously runs for some time period then his run turns into dream run and the defending team gets extra points.
Strategies and Techniques
Kho-kho is a strategic game that requires physical ability as well as mental agility. In this game, you need to be fast so you can easily touch a runner and if you are a runner then you should be fast enough so no chaser can touch you. Some of the key strategies and techniques are as follows:
1. Chain Kho: In this, the chasers form a chain, making it easier to surround the runners.
2. Double Chain: This is an advanced form of chain kho, in which two parallel chains are formed.
3. Ring Game: Chasers form a circle, making it difficult for runners to escape.
4. Pole Dive: Runners attempt to escape chasers by passing between poles. In some leagues, with Pole Dive you can make some extra scores.
5: False Kho: Defending Chasers pretend to give a false “kho” to confuse the runner. So in this you don’t give Kho but pretends. The other similar version is Delay Kho where as a chaser you don’t give Kho immediately but wait for some seconds.
Kho-Kho is a game of constant adaptation. Teams that can effectively combine these strategies and techniques while responding to their opponents’ tactics are more likely to succeed.
Importance and Benefits of Kho-Kho
Kho-kho is not just a sport but it is also a medium of personal and social development. Following are some of the major benefits of this sport:
- Physical Fitness: Kho-kho is a high-intensity sport that enhances stamina, speed and flexibility.
- Mental Development: This sport promotes strategic thinking, decision-making ability and immediate reaction.
- Team Spirit: Kho-kho promotes cooperation and coordination among team members.
- Cultural Significance: This sport is an important part of Indian culture and tradition.
- Affordable: Kho-kho can be played with less equipment and resources, making it popular in rural and urban areas alike.
International Recognition
Although Kho-kho is mainly popular in India, it is slowly gaining recognition internationally as well. In 1987, for the first time, Kho-kho was included in the Asian Games as a demonstration sport. Currently, the sport is played in countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan apart from India.
The International Kho-Kho Federation (IKKF) was founded in 2018 with the aim of promoting the sport globally. The IKKF organises Kho-Kho tournaments in various countries on various occassions and is striving to include the sport in the Olympic Games.
In addition to that, in India to give a big boost to this game at national level, franchise-based kho-kho league started and among them one is Ultimate Kho-Kho. This franchise-based kho-kho has bit different rules like instead of 9, only 7 players from the chasing team are on the field.
They introduced a concept of Wazir, who can chase a runner in any direction. Apart from that, in powerplay, 2 wazir can play from attacking team. These makes the Kho-Kho game more interesting and it is found viewers, players, team owners liked the new style and rule of Ultimate Kho-Kho!
Conclusion
Kho-kho is an important part of India’s rich sporting heritage. It is not only a recreational sport but also an effective medium of physical and mental development. Its simplicity and accessibility make it attractive to people of all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds.
In today’s digital age, where children and youth are often glued to screens, traditional sports like Kho-Kho can play an important role in promoting physical activity and social interaction. Moreover, this sport also helps in preserving Indian culture and traditions.
As Kho-Kho is gaining international recognition, it is hoped that this sport will become more popular in the future and make its place in the global sports community. Thus, Kho-Kho is not only a sport but also a living symbol of Indian culture, reflecting the diversity and rich traditions of the country.
