IKKF
New Delhi: Making history in the Nepali sporting scene, Nepal Kho Kho Association hosts its first-ever national-level Kho Kho league – Dream Kho Kho 2025. It took place from April 5 to April 10 amidst the picturesque district of Bardiya, Lumbini Province.
The Dream Kho Kho Leaguefeatured 5 teams, and witnessed participation from around 60 players and 20 match officials including two referees from India. The league saw a total of 14 engaging matches.
The league's final standings are as follows: Winner: Natures Nest Tigers – NPR 2,50,000 + Hand-crafted Dream Kho Kho Trophy Second : Bikash Premi Black Buck – NPR 1,50,000 Third: Kanchan Gaidahawa Royals – NPR 1,00,000
Kho Kho, is gaining popularity in all seven provinces of Nepal. Although its popularity in schools is limited to 2–3 districts, district-level competitions are actively being held across Nepal and players are getting recognition—international-level Kho Kho players being recruited into the Nepal Army, for instance.
Bardiya, one of the two districts which have mat facilities in Nepal (the other is Kathmandu), was selected as the proud host to this first-ever League, following the success of the U-21 National Kho Kho Championships that took place in March 2024.
Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the International Kho Kho Federation, lauded the initiative:“The Dream Kho Kho League is a remarkable achievement for Nepal and a proud moment for the entire Kho Kho community. This league not only showcases the talent and passion for the sport in Nepal but also strengthens the foundation for Kho Kho’s global expansion. I congratulate all the players, organizers, and supporters who made this dream a reality.”
Kshatra Bahadur Shahi, Senior Vice President , Nepal Kho Kho Association, “The Kho Kho is gaining popularity in Nepal and youth are inclined towards it and look at it with hope. The Dream Kho Kho would prove to be an important landmark in Nepal’s Kho Kho Journey.”
“The aggregate financial outlay of the league comprised around NPR 50 Lakhs, demonstrating the increasing level of investment and support for Kho Kho in Nepal,” said Shahi.
With the Dream Kho Kho 2025, not only has Nepal made a big leap towards mainstreaming Kho Kho but also laid the foundation for subsequent editions that will work towards increasing the reach of the sport, both locally and globally.