UPSC Prelims 2025 Q99: First Kho Kho World Cup — Explained
Consider the following statements in respect of the first Kho Kho World Cup:
I. The event was held in Delhi, India.
II. Indian men beat Nepal with a score of 78-40 in the final to become the World Champion in men category.
III. Indian women beat Nepal with a score of 54-36 in the final to become the World Champion in women category.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- I only
- II and III only
- I and III only
- I, II and III
Answer: (a) I only
Statement-wise explanation
- I: correct — The first Kho Kho World Cup was held from 13 to 19 January 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The Kho Kho Federation of India organised it with the International Kho Kho Federation. Teams from 23 countries took part.
- II: incorrect — India did beat Nepal in the men's final on 19 January 2025, but the score was 54-36, not 78-40. The 78-40 score is from the women's final. The statement puts the women's score on the men's final.
- III: incorrect — India did beat Nepal in the women's final, but the score was 78-40, not 54-36. The 54-36 score is from the men's final. The winners and the opponent are right, but the score is wrong, so the statement is incorrect.
How to eliminate
You can only solve this by knowing the two final scores. Basic knowledge gives you Statement I: the tournament was hosted in New Delhi, which rules out the option with only II and III. Statements II and III swap the two scores, and that is the trap. Both name the right winner and the right opponent, so they look true at a glance. They cannot be told apart without the numbers. Remember it this way: men won 54-36 and women won 78-40, so the women had the bigger margin. In current-affairs sports questions, UPSC often keeps the names right and swaps the figures. Check every number, not just who won.
Know more
Kho Kho is a traditional Indian tag game. The chasing team sits in a line of squares, facing alternate ways. The active chaser tags a seated teammate and calls "kho" to hand over the chase. The defenders try to avoid being touched for as long as they can.
The first Kho Kho World Cup (2025): key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | 13–19 January 2025 |
| Venue | Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi |
| Organisers | Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) with the International Kho Kho Federation |
| Participation | 23 countries; 20 men's and 19 women's teams |
| Format | Fast seven-a-side format (the one used in Ultimate Kho Kho); group stage, then knockouts |
| Mascots | Tejas and Tara (gazelles) |
| Men's final | India beat Nepal 54-36 |
| Women's final | India beat Nepal 78-40 |
Why it matters
- It was the first world-level event for an Indian indigenous sport. India won both titles without losing a match.
- Both finals were India against Nepal. It was the first time a Nepali team reached a World Cup final in any sport.
- It fits a wider push to promote traditional games. Kho Kho is one of the indigenous games in the Khelo India Youth Games. The league Ultimate Kho Kho helped make the shorter seven-a-side format popular.
Exam angle: Expect questions on the host city, the first edition, the opponent, and the scores. Learn the two finals as a pair: men 54-36, women 78-40.
In the news
The first Kho Kho World Cup was held in New Delhi in January 2025, four months before the Prelims. India won both the men's and women's titles against Nepal. It was widely covered as an Indian traditional sport reaching the world stage, so it was a natural current-affairs question.