Delhi Government Presents Cash Awards to Three Kho-Kho Players
Dr. Shrikrishna Sharma
New Delhi. At the opening ceremony of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented cash awards of ₹7.5 million each to three Kho-Kho players from Delhi: Mehul, Anshu Kumari, and Nasreen. These three players represented India in the inaugural Kho-Kho World Cup held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi in January 2025. India made a strong start to the tournament by winning titles in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Mehul completed his Class 12 exams through open schooling. He is 21 years old. His father is a driver. Currently, Mehul is training at an SAI facility in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Anshu is the youngest of three siblings and is pursuing a Bachelor of Physical Education in Sports from Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab. She wants to buy a house for her parents with the prize money and get a government job through the sports quota. “We have been living in a rented house in Alipur for a long time. Now I want to buy a house for my parents and gift it to them,” said 18-year-old Anshu. She also aspires to get a government job in the Railways. Her brother Ankit received the award on her behalf. Nasreen is an Arjuna Award-winning kho-kho player. She is 27 years old and is the fifth of 11 siblings: seven sisters and four brothers. Her father, Mohammad Gafoor, was the sole breadwinner until 2018. Nasreen is a former captain of the Indian women’s national kho-kho team. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Education Minister Ashish Sood, and former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan attended the opening ceremony of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh at the Chhatrasal Stadium on Friday. Kho-Kho Federation of India (KKFI) President Sudhanshu Mittal said, “Kho-Kho now not only offers recognition but also career opportunities, and young people are being attracted to pursue a career in the sport. He added, “Kho-Kho is now a modern sport, played on indigenously designed state-of-the-art mats and incorporating elements of sports science in all aspects, including training, nutrition, counseling, etc. This growing recognition is a testament to the sport’s growing popularity, its strong presence nationally, and its expanding global footprint.”
Mr. Mittal said, “I thank the Delhi Government, especially Delhi Chief Minister Mrs. Rekha Gupta and Minister Ashish Sood, for this recognition. This award is a huge boost to the players and will inspire young athletes to pursue a career in Kho-Kho.” KKFI General Secretary Upkar Singh Virk said, “It is a great honor that our players are being recognized for their achievements. We are committed to providing the best training and facilities to our players.” International Kho-Kho Federation (IKF) Secretary-Technical Dr MS Tyagi said, “The first Kho-Kho World Cup has brought the sport to the international level and the players participating in it are getting recognition from the respective state governments.” (Sports Editor)
