The undefeated India beat Brazil, Peru and Bhutan in the group stage before outclassing Bangladesh in the quarter-finals and overcoming a strong South Africa in the semis
Following in the footsteps of their female counterparts, the Indian men's team clinched the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025 title at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Sunday (January 19). The Men in Blue dominated the final against Nepal with a commanding 54-36 victory, led by outstanding performances from captain Pratik Waikar and tournament standout Ramji Kashyap. (More Sports News)
The women's team had earlier beaten Nepal by a resounding 78-40 margin to lift the inaugural title themselves.
Attacking first, an exceptional sky dive by Ramji Kashyap got Nepal's Suraj Pujara. Suyash Gargate then touched Bharat Sahu to give India a great start with 10 points in just 4 minutes. Sky dives were the name of the game for the Men in Blue, and this ensured a bright start for the side in Turn 1, preventing the Dream Run for their opponents. At the end of the turn, the scoreline was 26-0 in favor of the Indians — a perfect start for the side.
In Turn 2, Nepal were not able to match Team India's levels but did prevent the side from going on a single Dream Run. Aditya Ganpule and skipper Pratik Waikar carried the team through this turn, and despite regular touches from the likes of Janak Chand and Suraj Pujara, the side carried a 26-18 lead into the second half of the clash.
India were in their stride in Turn 3, displaying unwavering confidence throughout. Captain Pratik Waikar shone on the mat with multiple sky dives, and with the support of Ramji Kashyap, another star of the tournament. Aditya Ganpule was also at his finest, and the team's collective effort took the score to 54-18 entering the final turn of the match — and the tournament.
Nepal fought hard in Turn 4 in their bid to come back against India. But the defenders, once again led by Waikar and this time Sachin Bhargo — fondly known as Chingari — proved too strong. Mehul and Suman Barman were equally impressive, and this sealed a much-deserved trophy for India as the score read 54-36 at the end of the final.
The team's journey to the championship was nothing short of remarkable. India showcased their dominance throughout the tournament, beginning with convincing victories over Brazil, Peru and Bhutan in the group stages. Their momentum continued through the knockout rounds, where they outclassed Bangladesh in the quarter-finals before overcoming a strong South African side in the semi-finals.