Mon Jan 20 14:14:08 UTC 2025: ## Indian Women’s Kho Kho Team Wins World Cup, Coach Credits Team Effort and Potential for Growth
**Hyderabad, January 21, 2025** – Eslavath Naresh, coach of the Indian women’s kho kho team, is celebrating a historic World Cup victory in Delhi. This win, he believes, marks a turning point for the traditionally under-recognized sport in India.
Naresh, a 42-year-old coach with Indian Railways and a native of Telangana, guided the team to victory after a rigorous one-month training camp. He emphasized the team’s collective effort, refusing to single out individual players for praise. The coach, whose parents were farmers, himself hails from a small village near Peddapalli and began his coaching journey after a successful playing career culminating in a bronze medal for Andhra Pradesh in the 2002 Senior Nationals.
Naresh highlighted the importance of platforms like the Chief Minister’s Cup in nurturing rural talent. He sees the World Cup win as a catalyst for increased job opportunities and believes kho kho’s indigenous nature and minimal infrastructure requirements can boost its popularity. His vision for the future includes establishing a “club culture” and integrating the sport into school curricula.
“Once boys and girls see a future in kho kho, it will transform the sport,” he stated. Naresh also expressed his hope for kho kho’s inclusion in the Asian Games and Olympics, a sentiment shared by the wider kho kho community. He credits his early coach, K. Sadanandam, and his own unwavering passion for the sport’s success.
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