The first-ever Kho-Kho World Cup, is set to take place at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from January 13–19, however tournament faces an unexpected hurdle as Pakistan's men's and women's teams haven't been granted visas. According to reports, the Ministry of External Affairs is yet to approve their visa applications, casting doubt on their participation in the tournament.
Sushanshu Mittal, BJP leader and President of the Kho-Kho Federation of while speaking to The Indian Express said, “The Pakistan team is still awaiting their visas,”.
India and Pakistan were scheduled to face off in a highly anticipated opening match. However, with Pakistan’s visa approval is still pending, it appears the clash may get abandoned. If Pakistan remains absent, India will instead play Nepal in first match.
Geeta Sudan, COO of the Kho-Kho World Cup, also commented on the issue, stating,
“When we made the schedule, we hoped for it to go as planned. But this is beyond our control. Since the Ministry of External Affairs has not approved their application, it seems unlikely they will play.”
Kho-Kho World Cup's Schedule released
The tournament, featuring 40 teams across men’s and women’s categories, will now proceed with 39 teams if Pakistan doesn't participate.
The Men’s Kho-Kho tournament kicks off on January 13, with India set to face Nepal in their first match if Pakistan does not participate. The league stage concludes on January 16, followed by playoffs on January 17. The final will be held on January 19.
For the Women’s Kho-Kho World Cup, the opening match features England and Australia on January 13, while India’s women’s team will play South Korea on January 14.
The league stage ends on January 16, with playoffs on January 17 and the final will be held on January 19. The tournament will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network, with Disney+ Hotstar serving as the official OTT partner.
