Maharashtra (Women) and Railways (Men) win the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship title
By Dr. Shrikrishna Sharma
New Delhi. In the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship held in Kazipet (Telangana), the defending champions Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) team and the Maharashtra team won the titles in the men’s and women’s categories respectively. Railways (men) registered their second consecutive win, while Maharashtra (women) secured their fifth title.
In the women’s category, Maharashtra defeated Odisha 23-22 in a closely contested match to clinch the title. In the men’s category, Railways emerged victorious by defeating Maharashtra 26-21 in a thrilling final. It is also worth noting that Railways (men) and Maharashtra (women) had won the titles of the 57th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship held in Puri, Odisha from March 31 to April 4, 2025. Notably, both Odisha and Maharashtra won silver medals in the women’s and men’s categories for the second time. Kolhapur secured the third position in the men’s category and Airports Authority of India (AAI) secured the third position in the women’s category, replicating their performance in the previous Senior Nationals. Teams from across the country showcased outstanding performances in the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship held here.
In the championship, Pratik Waikar of Maharashtra received the Best Defender award in the men’s category, while Archana Pradhan of Odisha won this title in the women’s category. Abhinandan Patil of Railways was chosen as the Best Attacker in the men’s category, while Priyanka Ingle of Maharashtra was the Best Attacker in the women’s category. Ramji Kashyap of Indian Railways was awarded the prestigious Eklavya Award, while Sandhya Suravase of Odisha was awarded the Rani Lakshmi Award. Both were also chosen as the best all-rounders in their respective categories. In the women’s final played here, Maharashtra displayed excellent defense, with Sandhya Survase staying on the mat for 2:30 minutes and Kho Kho World Cup captain Priyanka Ingle holding her ground for 2:00 minutes. Ingle also performed brilliantly in attack, scoring a total of 10 points. Odisha’s Archana Pradhan showcased impressive defensive maneuvers in the final match. In the men’s final, Maharashtra’s Pratik Waikar displayed outstanding defense, staying on the mat for 1.55 seconds, while Railways’ Abhinandan Patil excelled in attack.
Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) President Sudhanshu Mittal said, “The 58th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship in Telangana has set a new benchmark for the Senior Nationals. From organization to participation, every aspect was outstanding. The energy and enthusiasm levels were incredible, and Kho Kho, as a modern sport, provided high-voltage entertainment to the spectators.” KKFI General Secretary Upkar Singh Virk said, “With such a large participation of teams from various states, union territories, and institutions, the Senior National Championship was truly unique. The matches were thrilling, and I congratulate all the teams, players, and officials who participated in the championship.”
KKFI Chairman, Organization and Administration, Dr. M.S. Tyagi congratulated the winners and said that the healthy participation of teams is a testament to the growing popularity of Kho-Kho. Telangana Kho Kho Association President Janga Raghav Reddy said, “It was an honor to host the 58th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship. It has been a great effort, and it is heartening to see the development of this sport in Telangana.”
