1st Kho Kho World Cup:
- Uganda (Bronze medalists) – women
Uganda women Kho Kho national team won bronze at the inaugural edition of the Kho Kho World Cup in India.
Uganda was flawless and determined in all the matches played at the Indira Gandhi stadium in New Delhi city.
Right from the grueling group stage matches, Uganda showed intent and courage to take on the world opposition, topping their group B pool, before winning the quarter final and fell at the semi-final level to Nepal.
At the group stages, Uganda won over Netherlands with a century plus score (102-10), England (30-45) and Australia (95-20).
Uganda only lost to Kenya in the groups to advance to the quarter finals as the best country in pool B.
At the quarter final level, Uganda easily marched to the semi-finals with a convincing 71-26 over New Zealand.
In the explosive semifinal showdown, Uganda fell to Nepal in gallant fashion.
Led by head coach Ephrahim Makubuya, Uganda returns home on Tuesday, 21st January 2025 with their heads up.
A number of players shone brightest during the different games as Grace Ojil, Rose Nankumba, Jemimah Zalwango, Sharon Oloma and others.
India won the men and women gold, overcoming Nepal in the final of either gender.
By and large, the experience to play at this first historic Kho Kho world cup for all the 24 countries was worthwhile for the future of the sport.
Team Uganda delegation:
- Head of delegation: Harriet Apolot
- Kho Kho president in Uganda: Mustafa Nsubuga
- Head coach: Ephraim Makubuya
Players:
Sharon Oloma, Olivia Nalubega, Jovita Lubango, Edinah Nattabi, Emilly Nanziri, Dorothy Nagawa, Shirat Mirembe, Jemima Zalwango, Olivia Tuhaise, Norah Nabasirye, Grace Ojil, Eunice Awori, Priscila Nambazira, Rose Nankumba and Mellon Amvioko
What is all about the Kho Kho sport:
Kho kho is a traditional South Asian sport that date to ancient India.
It is the second-most popular traditional tag game in the Indian sub-continent after Kabaddi.
Kho kho is played on a rectangular court with a central lane connecting two poles which are at either end of the court.
During the game, nine players from the chasing team (attacking team) are on the field, with eight of them sitting (crouched) in the central lane, while three runners from the defending team run around the court and try to avoid being touched.
Each sitting player on the chasing team faces the opposite half of the field that their adjacent teammates are facing.
At any time, one player from the chasing team (the ‘active chaser’/’attacker’) may run around the court to attempt to tag (touch) members of the defending team, with one point scored per tag, and each tagged defender required to leave the field; however, the active chaser cannot cross the central lane to access the other half of the field, and cannot change direction once they start running toward either pole.
The chasing team can get around these restrictions if the active chaser either switches roles with a sitting teammate (by touching them on the back while saying “Kho”) who is facing the other half of the court and therefore has access to it, or runs to the area behind either pole and then switches direction/half.
Each team has two turns to score and two turns to defend, with each turn lasting nine minutes. The team that scores the most points by the end of the game wins.
The sport is widely played across South Asia and also has a presence in other regions with a significant South Asian diaspora, such as South Africa and England.
It is played most often by school children, and is also a competitive sport.
The first franchise league for the sport, Ultimate Kho Kho was unveiled in India in August 2022.
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