Punjab Newsline, Sports:
Karnataka win boys’ title, Maharashtra clinch girls’ crown at 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship
Hosts Karnataka and Maharashtra delivered outstanding performances to claim the titles at the 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship. The finals were played at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Gunjur, Bengaluru, where Karnataka emerged champions in the boys’ category, while Maharashtra lifted the girls’ title.
In the boys’ final, Karnataka defeated defending champions Maharashtra 35-30 in a fiercely contested match. Both teams displayed exceptional skill and determination, but Karnataka capitalised on home support and superior strategy to secure the victory. Earlier, in the semifinals, Maharashtra edged past Kolhapur 33-31, while Karnataka dominated Madhya Bharat 33-20.
In the girls’ final, Maharashtra successfully defended their title by defeating Odisha 34-33 in a thrilling, high-intensity encounter. The match kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the final moments. In the semifinals, Maharashtra defeated Punjab 28-14, while Odisha overcame Kolhapur 29-27.
Several individual awards were presented for outstanding performances. Maharashtra’s Sneha Lamkane received the ‘Janaki Award’ for Best Player in the girls’ category. Karnataka’s B. Vijay was honoured with the ‘Veer Abhimanyu Award’ as the Best Player in the boys’ category. In the girls’ section, Diksha Katekar of Maharashtra was named Best Attacker, while Archana Pradhan of Odisha won the Best Defender award. In the boys’ category, Maharashtra’s Raj Jadhav was awarded Best Attacker, and Karnataka’s Prajjwal Y. was named Best Defender.
Held from December 31 to January 4, the championship provided a significant platform for emerging talent from across the country. Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) President Sudhanshu Mittal congratulated all the players, stating that the Junior National Tournament plays a vital role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
Other KKFI officials also praised the successful organisation of the event and expressed confidence in the bright future of Kho Kho in India.
The 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship will be held from January 11 to 15 in Kazipet, Telangana, while the 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship is scheduled from January 31 to February 4 in Kurukshetra, Haryana.