Sports in News — Kho Kho, Khelo India & National Games
1. Kho Kho World Cup 2025
CONTEXT
- The inaugural session of Kho Kho World Cup 2025 was held in India.
- India clinched both the men's and women's titles at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
- Host India defeated Nepal 54-36 (men) and 78-40 (women) in the finals on January 19.
- India remained unbeaten throughout, overcoming South Africa in both semifinals.
ABOUT KHO KHO WORLD CUP 2025
- Witnessed the participation of 23 countries from six continents, featuring 20 men's and 19 women's teams.
- Played under the seven-a-side fast format, which is used for Ultimate Kho Kho.
- The tournament began with group stages followed by knockouts.
ULTIMATE KHO KHO — FAST FORMAT
- Ultimate Kho Kho employs a fast-paced seven-a-side format, differing from the traditional nine-player version.
- In this setup, seven attackers are on the field, with matches consisting of two innings, each containing attacking and defending turns of seven minutes.
2. Khelo India Games
CONTEXT — 6TH EDITION (2024)
- Held from 19-31 January 2024 in Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).
- Format: U-17 school & U-21 college students; team championship based on gold medals.
- Medals: 933 total (278 gold, 278 silver, 377 bronze) across 26 sports.
- Debut Sports: Squash; Silambam (demonstration sport).
- Mascot: Veera Mangai (Inspired by Queen Velu Nachiyar).
- Logo: Features poet Thiruvalluvar.
- Past Hosts: Delhi, Pune, Guwahati, Panchkula, Bhopal.
- Previous Champions: Maharashtra & Haryana only.
KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES 2024
- Venue: Ladakh & J&K.
- Mascot: Sheen-e She' (Snow Leopard).
ABOUT KHELO INDIA PROGRAMME
- Khelo India, which translates to 'Let's play India', was proposed by the Government of India in 2017 to revive India's sporting culture by engaging with children at the grassroots level.
- The 1st edition of Khelo India games was held in Delhi in January 2018.
- The Khelo India games are organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
OBJECTIVES OF KHELO INDIA
- Revive sports culture at the grassroots level and establish India as a sporting nation.
- Utilizes sports as a unifying force (65% of India's population is below 35).
- Government provides job opportunities for Khelo India medal winners.
3. National Games 2025
CONTEXT
- The 2025 National Games of India, also known as the 38th National Games of India, is a major multi-sport event.
ABOUT NATIONAL GAMES
- The National Games are a premier multi-sport event in India, showcasing the country's top athletes across various disciplines.
- They serve as a platform for identifying and nurturing talent for international competitions.
- The Games are organized by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in collaboration with state governments.
4. Summary: Kho Kho, Khelo India & National Games at a Glance
| Event | Year | Host/Venue | Winner | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kho Kho World Cup | 2025 | New Delhi (Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium) | India (Men & Women) | Inaugural edition; 23 countries; 7-a-side fast format |
| Khelo India Games (6th Edition) | 2024 | Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore) | Team Championship | 933 medals; 26 sports; Debut: Squash, Silambam |
| Khelo India Winter Games | 2024 | Ladakh & J&K | - | Mascot: Sheen-e She' (Snow Leopard) |
| National Games | 2025 | TBD | TBD | 38th National Games; organized by IOA |
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- Kho Kho World Cup 2025: Inaugural edition; India won both men's and women's titles; 7-a-side fast format
- Kho Kho Format: 7-a-side vs traditional 9-player; two innings of 7 minutes each
- Khelo India (6th Edition 2024): Tamil Nadu; Veera Mangai mascot (Queen Velu Nachiyar); Thiruvalluvar logo
- Khelo India Winter Games 2024: Ladakh & J&K; Sheen-e She' (Snow Leopard) mascot
- Khelo India Programme: Launched 2017; 1st edition Delhi 2018; Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
- Khelo India Objectives: Grassroots sports revival; sports as unifying force; job opportunities for medal winners
- National Games 2025: 38th edition; organized by IOA
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Kho Kho, Khelo India & National Games)
Q1. The inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025 was held in which city?
Correct Answer: C. The inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025 was held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
Q2. Which country did India defeat in the men's final of the Kho Kho World Cup 2025?
Correct Answer: B. India defeated Nepal 54-36 in the men's final of the Kho Kho World Cup 2025.
Q3. What is the format of Ultimate Kho Kho?
Correct Answer: C. Ultimate Kho Kho employs a fast-paced seven-a-side format, differing from the traditional nine-player version.
Q4. The 6th edition of Khelo India Games (2024) was hosted by which state?
Correct Answer: C. The 6th edition of Khelo India Games (2024) was hosted by Tamil Nadu across Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore.
Q5. The mascot for the Khelo India Games 2024 was Veera Mangai, inspired by:
Correct Answer: B. The mascot Veera Mangai was inspired by Queen Velu Nachiyar, the 18th-century Tamil queen.
Q6. The Khelo India programme was launched in which year?
Correct Answer: C. Khelo India, translating to 'Let's play India', was proposed by the Government of India in 2017.
Q7. The 1st edition of Khelo India Games was held in which city?
Correct Answer: C. The 1st edition of Khelo India Games was held in Delhi in January 2018.
Q8. The Khelo India Games are organized by which ministry?
Correct Answer: C. The Khelo India Games are organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
Q9. The mascot for Khelo India Winter Games 2024 was:
Correct Answer: C. The mascot for Khelo India Winter Games 2024 was Sheen-e She' (Snow Leopard).
Q10. The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 had participation from how many countries?
Correct Answer: C. The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 witnessed participation from 23 countries across six continents, featuring 20 men's and 19 women's teams.