Mon Jan 13 19:50:26 UTC 2025: ## India Hosts Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup
**New Delhi, India** – India is hosting the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup, a week-long tournament starting January 13th at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. Backed by the Indian Olympic Association, the competition features 39 teams: 20 men’s and 19 women’s, representing countries from across the globe.
The tournament will see teams battling it out in a group stage, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals (January 17-19). The final match is scheduled for January 19th at 7 PM IST. Star Sports will broadcast the matches, with India’s games airing daily between 7 PM and 8:15 PM IST. Women’s matches begin at 7 PM, followed by men’s matches at 8:15 PM.
The tournament’s group stage will feature the following groupings:
* **Men’s Group Stage:** Group A: India, Nepal, Peru, Brazil, Bhutan; Group B: South Africa, Ghana, Argentina, Netherlands, Iran; Group C: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Republic of Korea, USA, Poland; Group D: England, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, Kenya. Another set of groups for men are: Group A: India, Iran, Malaysia, Republic of Korea; Group B: England, Australia, Kenya, Uganda, Netherlands; Group C: Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Germany, Bangladesh; Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Poland, Peru, Indonesia.
* **Women’s groups were not provided in the original text.**
A detailed match schedule, including specific timings for each game, is available [link to schedule if available].
Kho Kho, a traditional Indian sport originating in Maharashtra, has evolved from its early chariot-based origins to the mat-based game played today. The sport’s rules were formalized in 1914, with the first national championship held in 1959. Kho Kho has also been featured in various international sporting events, including demonstrations at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the 1982 Asian Games.
First Piper 