Kho Kho is one of India’s oldest traditional sports and is played in schools across the country. In January 2025, New Delhi hosted the first Kho Kho World Cup, and India won both the men’s and women’s titles. Here is a simple guide to Kho Kho rules as played in standard competitions under the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI).
The field
The field is rectangular, with a central lane running along its length. A wooden pole stands at each end of the central lane. Squares are marked along the lane where chasers sit.
Teams
A squad usually has 12 players, of whom nine take the field. One team chases and the other defends, then they switch. A match has two innings, and each innings has one turn of chasing and one turn of defending for each team. Each turn lasts a fixed time as per the competition rules.
Chasers
Eight chasers sit in the squares in the central lane, facing alternate directions. The ninth is the active chaser who runs to tag defenders.
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Defenders (runners)
Defenders enter the field in batches of three. They try to avoid being touched by the active chaser for as long as possible. When all three in a batch are out, the next batch enters.
The kho
The active chaser cannot cross the central lane and cannot change direction once moving towards a pole. To switch, the active chaser touches a seated chaser from behind and says “kho” loudly. The seated chaser then becomes the active chaser. This passing of the chase is what gives the game its name and its speed.
Scoring
The chasing team scores a point each time a defender is touched out by the active chaser with the hand, or goes out of bounds. At the end of the match, the team with more points wins. In some formats, defenders also earn points for staying in longer, so check the rules of the event you are watching.
Fouls
- The active chaser crosses the central lane.
- The active chaser turns back or changes direction, except at the poles.
- A seated chaser gets up before getting a proper kho.
- The kho is given without touching or without saying “kho” clearly.
A foul means the chaser has to give a kho or change direction, and any defender touched during the foul does not count.
Skills that matter
Speed, quick turns, dodging and team coordination are key. Defenders use techniques such as the zig zag run and the pole dive, while chasers use quick khos and diving touches.
Bottom line
Kho Kho rules are easy: sit, chase, pass the chase with a kho, and tag the runners. After the World Cup success, the game is gaining new fans across India and abroad.
Source / स्रोत: Kho Kho Federation of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Press Information Bureau
