Tue Jan 21 11:03:03 UTC 2025: ## Pune Family Double Victory at Inaugural Kho-Kho World Cup
**NEW DELHI/PUNE** – A Pune family is celebrating a double triumph at the inaugural Kho-Kho World Cup. Pratik Waikar, 32, captained the Indian men’s team to victory, while his cousin’s wife, Prachi Waikar, 42, coached the winning women’s team. The tournament, held in New Delhi, concluded Sunday.
Pratik, a senior technician with MSEDCL, described the win as a “momentous occasion” and praised the strong competition, particularly from Nepal, Iran, and South Africa. He highlighted the growing global interest in kho-kho, noting the participation of European and African nations. He credited his success to teamwork and meticulous player development, stating he focused on both identifying talent and addressing individual flaws within the team. He expressed gratitude to MSEDCL for their support, allowing him flexibility to attend practices.
Prachi Waikar, sports head at a Pune international school, expressed similar joy, emphasizing the hard work and dedication of her team since their arrival in Delhi in mid-December. She and her husband, Sanat Waikar (also a kho-kho player), run Krida Niketan, a club providing kho-kho opportunities to children in Pune slums.
The Waikar family’s passion for the sport is evident; Pratik and his brother both secured jobs thanks to their kho-kho skills. Their father, Kiran Waikar, expressed immense pride in both his sons and the family’s overall achievement. Pratik’s wife, Kshitija, shared anecdotes of his unwavering commitment to the sport, even missing family events for practice. Their three-year-old son, Rushank, celebrated the win with enthusiastic shouts of “India, India!”
The family’s remarkable achievement underscores the growing popularity and global reach of kho-kho.
First Piper 