New Delhi: The Women in Blue donned their whites with just three players on the mat, defending in the fourth and final turn. With the 30 seconds left, two of them were tagged and forced out of the mat with the final defender running seamlessly just for the clock to tick off.
The crowd went berserk, not able to hold their emotions, as it chanted the countdown in chorus. 10…9…8…. the chants amplified as the clock came down to five seconds. The Indian women’s Kho Kho team was full of ecstasy the moment the final whistle was blown.
The coaching staff members and the team members gathered into circle to celebrate their win before the players decided to shake their legs on the beats of ‘Suno Gaur se Duniya Walo’. India defeated Nepal by a comprehensive margin of 78-40 to lift the inaugural Women’s Kho Kho World Cup.
THE ULTIMATE CLASH FOR THE TROPHY ⚔️🏆
After a fierce fight, India has earned the right to lift the first ever Kho Kho World Cup trophy and secure their place in history!! 👏🔥
Stay tuned for all things #KhoKhoWorldCup 2025 🔗 or download our app 👉… pic.twitter.com/sFAAZqFDUB
— Kho Kho World Cup India 2025 (@Kkwcindia) January 19, 2025
Nepal shattered the norm of a runners-up team turning numb and expressing emotions. The Saraswati Kadayat-led side held none of that, but chose to enjoy their success – the one of making it to the final and playing against the best. The Nepal players gathered in a group to cheer each other with the player in the centre hoisting their national flag.
The Indian team followed their opponents’ suit as the tri-colour national flag was brought in before the players clenched fists before the moving cameras and unleashed the roar. They went across the rectangular mat to waive and acknowledge the support of the boisterous crowd, who turned in more than 10,000. It was much after both teams completed their joy and cherished the moment, the ritual hand-shake ceremony ensued with the match officials.
India stamp their authority to clinch title
India were brilliant in the attack with Priyanka Ingle, Nirmala Bhati, and Nasreen Shaikh getting the deft touches. But Nepal was far better than the opponents that India faced. In the first turn, it was the very first time that India accounted for less than 50 points thanks to the agility and dodging prowess that kept the Indian attackers in control. India managed to pick 34 points in first turn.
Chaitra B helped India gain a dream run as Nepal closed the second turn at 22-35 with India showing some laxity at the end to concede touch points. The third turn was where India came full guns blazing by dismissing six batches and two more defenders to add 38 points in the turn.
Nepal had to chase 49 points in the final turn, an arduous task, meaning they needed at least 25 tags on the hosts. The Indians exerted the pressure by sticking to their prudent strategy of one defender luring the attackers in the central line to make the opposition tiresome. The trick has worked in the defence throughout the tournament and it aptly paid rich dividends in the final as well. With only eight touches made in the last turn, India emerged as champions in the women’s division.
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