What Is Kho Kho: Some aspects of the gameplay of kho-kho may have been mentioned in the Mahabharata. An ancient version of kho-kho called Rathera was believed to be played on chariots (rath means “chariot” in Hindi). The modern game variant was created in 1914 by the Deccan Gymkhana club in Pune, which provided its rules and formalized structure. Kho-kho was demonstrated alongside other traditional Indian sports at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The 2016 edition of the South Asian Games included it as a medal sport.
How Many Players Are There in Kho Kho Team?
Each team includes 12-15 players, although only nine will compete in a single match.
Also Read: How Many Teams in Ultimate Kho Kho? Ultimate Kho Kho All-Players List
How To Play Kho Kho Game?
- It is played between two teams of 12-15 players each. However, only nine players from each team are chosen for the match.
- The winner of the toss chooses whether to chase or avoid being touched.
- The chaser team sits on the ground in an alternate sequence (only eight players out of 9), and the 9th member begins as a chaser.
- Three opponents will enter the ground and attempt to avoid being touched by the chaser.
- When the current chaser gives a “Kho” to any of the sitting players, he becomes the new chaser.
- If the chaser contacts the opponent’s player, it earns a point. Each side has 9 minutes to touch as many opponents as possible.
- The player with the most points wins the game.
Kho Kho Game Rules
- Each team includes 12-15 players, although only nine will compete in a single match.
- Each match consists of two innings; each team can chase and run (avoiding the Chaser).
- The chasing team’s eight members alternately sit on the ground, with the ninth as the team’s current Chaser.
- Each team has 7-9 minutes to earn points in each inning.
- To win points, chasers must touch the players on their opponent’s team with their palm (hand). Chaser receives one point for each payer eliminated.
- Opponent runners must enter in groups of three, and once these three players are eliminated, only the following set of three can enter.
- Opponent runners can pass via (left-right) the area between the players seated on the ground.
- However, the present Chaser cannot advance this way; he must complete the entire circle before proceeding to the other side.
- The current Chaser can swap places with the eight sitting players by touching their back and saying “Kho” loudly. The individual who has been touched becomes the current Chaser.
- The team with the most points wins the game.
Kho Kho Game Ground
The field is 27 by 16 meters (89 by 52 feet), with a distance of 24 meters (79 feet) between the two poles and a width of 30 centimeters (12 inches) in the center. Each cross lane (which runs from one side of the court to the other through the chasers’ sitting areas) is 35 centimeters (14 in) wide, with adjacent cross lanes 2.3 meters (7 ft 7 in) apart and a separation of 2.55 meters (8 ft 4 in) between each pole and its adjacent cross lane. Each pole measures 120 to 125 cm (47 to 49 in) in height and 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) in diameter. There are no rough edges on the poles, which are smooth and round. There are 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)-long extensions of the court behind each of the bars known as “free zones,” which allow chasers to move freely.
