PM Modi Applauds Indian Women's Team for Historic Kho Kho World Cup Victory

New Delhi, Jan 19 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the Indian women's team for securing the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup title after defeating Nepal in the final match held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

PM Modi praised the unmatched skill, determination, and teamwork displayed by the Indian women's team, who triumphed over Nepal with a score of 78-40, marking a historic milestone in the sport. He emphasized that this significant achievement will not only shine a light on India's traditional sports but will also encourage young people to engage in kho kho across the nation.

"Congratulations to the Indian women's team on winning the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup! This remarkable victory reflects their unmatched skill, determination, and teamwork," PM Modi shared on X, previously known as Twitter.

"This victory has spotlighted one of India's oldest traditional sports, motivating numerous young athletes throughout the country. I hope this success inspires even more youngsters to pursue this sport in the future," he added.

With a strong beginning, the first turn showcased the Indian attackers taking control of the game. Within three batches, the Nepalese women were eliminated by simple touches on seven occasions, granting India 14 points. Skipper Priyanka Ingle was in exceptional form, contributing significantly to her team's score, allowing the Women in Blue to accumulate 34 points and preventing Nepal from achieving a single Dream Run.

Manmati Dhami eliminated Vaishnavi Pawar, and Samjhana B took out Priyanka Ingle, but Chaithra B led India into the Dream Run during Turn 2. However, Dipa soon completed the ALL OUT, bringing Nepal back into the contest, though they ended Turn 2 with just 24 points, trailing by 11 at halftime.

In Turn 3, Team India continued to dominate, not allowing the Nepal defenders to find their rhythm. Dipa BK made efforts for Nepal, but they proved futile as India moved closer to the trophy.

Chaithra B orchestrated a remarkable Dream Run for India, pushing the score to an impressive 78 points during Turn 4. Their stretch lasted a significant 5 minutes and 14 seconds, sealing the victory for India and crowning them as the first-ever champions of the Kho Kho World Cup 2025.

India's journey to glory included decisive wins over South Korea, IR Iran, and Malaysia in the group stages, followed by a victory against Bangladesh in the quarter-finals and a commanding win against South Africa in the semi-finals. This landmark achievement not only crowns India as the inaugural world champion but also signifies a pivotal moment for this indigenous sport on the international stage.