Cuttack, 13 January, 2024: Gujarat Giants was crowned the champion of Season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League after overcoming opponent Chennai Quick Guns in the final of the tournament on Saturday. The Giants won by 31-26 against the Chennai team, dominating the contest from the start.  

This is the first title for Gujarat Giants that is owned by Adani Sportsline, who are firmly committed to the growth and benefit of indigenous sports.  

“We are delighted to top Season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League. The team performed brilliantly throughout the season and the win is a testament to the efforts behind the scenes by the Adani Sportsline team,” said captain Akshay Bhangare.  

Gujarat Giants was in scintillating form throughout the tournament and was one of the most entertaining teams in the mix. It finished third in the league stage with 21 points and a score difference of 55 after winning 6 games, drawing a couple and losing some others.   

In the semi-final, Gujarat Giants played home team Odisha Juggernauts and won the closely contested encounter 29-27 to march into the final.  

Gujarat Giants weave Kho Kho magic! 🦁 @GiantsKho clinch their first @ultimatekhokho trophy, driven by dazzling attacking prowess. Kudos to Coach Sanjeev Sharma, Asst Coach Mahesh — your remarkable journey to victory is engraved in Kho Kho history! @AdaniSportsline @AdaniOnline pic.twitter.com/LV7tkNn04Y

— Pranav Adani (@PranavAdani) January 13, 2024

“This is a fantastic achievement for Gujarat Giants. Winning the Ultimate Kho Kho League title wasn’t easy. The team functioned like a family, and the result showed in the way they played,” said coach Sanjeev Sharma. 

Cuttack, January 11 2024: Chennai Quick Guns reached the final of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 with a 31-29 victory over Telugu Yoddhas in the second semifinal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Cuttack on Thursday. They will take on Gujarat Giants, who beat defending champions Odisha Juggernauts in the first semifinal.

Despite Telugu Yoddhas seizing an early advantage, Chennai Quick Guns clawed their way back into the match with an impressive attacking performance in the final turn.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group. The semifinals featured a number of guests, including Shri VK Pandian, chairman of 5T and Nabin Odisha, Shri Vineel Krishna, Sports Secretary, Odisha and Nasreen, the Arjuna Award-winning Indian Kho Kho team captain.  

“Odisha is at the forefront of promotion and development of sports including indigenous sports like Kho Kho. Apart from having a franchise in Ultimate Kho Kho, it is also setting up a high performance centre for Kho Kho with AM/NS India,” said Shri VK Pandian on the occasion.

All eyes were on the in-form Ramji Kashyap going into Turn 1, but it was another big name player who grabbed all the attention. Telugu Yoddhas skipper Pratik Waikar was in regal form, scoring a whopping ten points for his team in turn. Chennai Quick Guns’ first batch — Ramji, Vijay Shinde and Madan — earned the customary couple of dream run points. But that was all that the Telugu Yoddhas attackers led by Waikar allowed their opponents. At the end of the turn, Telugu Yoddhas had a 14-2 advantage.

Telugu Yoddhas consolidated the advantage in Turn 2 with their first batch of Waikar, Aditya Ganpule and Avdhut Patil staying on the mat for four minutes and seven seconds, and getting three dream run points. The first innings ended with the score at 17-14 in favour of Telugu Yoddhas.

Waikar continued his superb show in Turn 3, taking just four seconds to send back his first victim. The first Chennai Quick Guns batch lasted just two minutes and 11 seconds. That allowed Chennai Quick Guns’ prime batch of Ramji, Shinde and Madan to come on the mat. They did their job, spending four minutes and 18 seconds on the mat and earning three dream run points. Telugu Yoddhas held a 29-17 lead going into the final turn.

The Chennai Quick Guns attackers however came to the party in Turn 4, sending back the first two Telugu Yoddhas batches in quick time and levelling the scores. And with Laxman Gawas sending back Avdhut Patil, the Chennai Quick Guns had the points they needed.

Earlier, Gujarat Giants marched into the final, overcoming defending champions Odisha Juggernauts 29-27 in the first semifinal.

Gujarat Giants dominated the first innings as their opponents seemingly switched off. Odisha Juggernauts put in an improved show in the second half, but the nine-point advantage they conceded in the first proved too much to overcome. Suyash Gargate and Sanket Kadam were the pick of the attackers for Gujarat Giants with six points each.

Odisha Juggernauts made a nightmare start to the match. They not only lost their review for the first innings within a matter of minutes but conceded five dream run points to the first Gujarat Giants batch of Suyash Gargate, Deepak Madhav and Shubham Thorat. With one member of the next batch staying unconquered, Odisha Juggernauts led 10-5 after the first turn.

Things went from bad to worse for them in Turn 2. The Gujarat Giants attackers were rampant, not letting their opponents have a single dream run point. At the end of the first innings, their team had a nine-point advantage with the scores standing at 19-10 in their favour.

Odisha Juggernauts, though, came back strongly in Turn 3. They sent back the first two Gujarat Giants batches in just over four minutes. The likes of Dipesh More and Avinash Desai suddenly seemed infused with energy. That seemed too little too late though as, despite an impressive comeback, Odisha Juggernauts went into the final turn with a slender five-point lead. The Gujarat Giants attackers overcame that with ease in the final turn.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches starting at 7.30pm IST.

Cuttack, 11^th January 2023: Young all-rounder Nilesh Jadhav, who has been a key player for the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants in the ongoing edition of the Ultimate Kho Kho League Season Two, credited the support of his team’s management and their progress over the season which has seen the side lose just two matches in the entirety of their campaign.  

Sharing his thoughts about the side who have qualified for the playoffs, Nilesh said, “It is a great feeling to be playing for the Gujarat Giants in season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League. The coaching and the management, and their strategies heading into the season have been spot-on and it has been their guidance that has taken the team to the playoffs this season.” 

Nilesh has been a key member of the Adani Sportsline-owned side in the ongoing campaign, but he has been playing Kho Kho for more than a decade. The Kolhapur-born defensive all-rounder revealed the moment he decided his career lay in this sport. “I have been a Kho Kho player for more than a decade. I started playing the sport at the young age of 11 and since then I have wanted to pursue a career as a Kho Kho player. However, I knew I could make it to the big leagues when I was 14 and did well at the national level of the sport. “Under-14 Nationals was my big moment in the sport.” 

He added, “My father is a district-level Kabaddi player but when I was young, we moved to Kolhapur because of his job. The craze in Kolhapur for Kho Kho is very much alive, which encouraged me to take up this sport. A lot of people were not very convinced about me having a career in Kho Kho, especially when I was also playing the game and at the same time not getting a job as well. But when I was in sixth class we saw many Kho Kho playing and this inspired me to become a star of the game.” 

Nilesh also spoke about his aspirations as a Kho Kho, citing one specific laurel in his sights. “One of my biggest dreams as a Kho Kho player is to win the Eklavya award. This is one of the most prestigious awards that a sportsperson can get, and along with it, we get a cash reward which I want to use for the betterment of Kho Kho as a sport. I am grateful to the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants, who have given me the perfect chance to win this award and make a name for myself in Kho Kho,” he shared. 

Bhubaneswar, 10 January 2024: Odisha Juggernauts concluded the group stage of Season 2 in the Ultimate Kho Kho with a 34-23 win against Mumbai Khiladis. Securing their place in the semi-finals, they are set to face the Gujarat Giants in the next round. With 23 points in 10 matches, comprising 6 victories and only two losses, the Odisha Juggernauts finish second on the table.

Speaking ahead of the semi-finals, Sports Secretary, Shri Vineel Krishna said, “Promoting indigenous sports is very important to us and therefore we are delighted to see the state-owned franchise of the Odisha Juggernauts only two victories away from a second consecutive title in the Ultimate Kho-kho League. We are sure the fans will turn out in huge numbers to support their team.”

For the reigning champions, a second consecutive title would be another triumph in Kho Kho following Odisha’s two silver medals in Men’s and Women’s Kho-Kho at the recently concluded 37th edition of the National Games.

With both teams eager for the prize, fans can expect a hard-fought affair. In their previous two encounters against the Gujarat Giants, the Odisha Juggernauts won their most recent clash 35-27, while conceding defeat in their first encounter, 29-34.

Expressing confidence ahead of the semi-finals, Odisha Juggernauts Captain, Dipesh More said, “It’s always good to go into a high-pressure game like a semi-final with a victory so we are feeling confident. The team is looking forward to the support from the home crowd and these factors can make a big difference in critical games.”

Notably, the Odisha Juggernauts have been equipped with a physio, masseur and strength and conditioning coach from Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance, along with the resources of the recently inaugurated, state-of-the-art Sports Science Centre at the Kalinga Sports Complex in Bhubaneswar. The Sports Science Centre houses specialised labs including a Para-Athlete Performance Lab, Biomechanics Lab, Altitude Training Chamber, Cryotherapy, floatation therapy and various other sports science equipment.

Speaking on their preparation during the tournament, vice-captain Gowtham MK said, “The set up has been very professional and it has exposed us to many techniques for training and recovery. Not only does this help our in-game performances but it has also helped us develop significantly as individual athletes.”

The Odisha Juggernauts will take on the Gujarat Giants on January 11th  at the Jawaharlal Indoor Stadium in Cuttack.

Cuttack, January 10, 2024: Chennai Quick Guns will aspire to keep their dominant run going when they take on Telugu Yoddhas in the second semifinal of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Thursday.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group.

Chennai Quick Guns have arguably been the best team of the season so far. The team with the most attacking and defensive points, they also have the player of the season within their ranks in Ramji Kashyap. Ramji is both the top attacker and the top defender of this season, has the most number of sky dives as well as the most dive points.

What makes their season all the more impressive is how Chennai Quick Guns have been fuelled by some young players who are just at the start of their careers. Ramji himself is just 20. All-rounder Madan, who has put in some superb defensive displays, is just 19. Attacker Vijay Shinde is just 21 while Akash Kadam is 22.

“We will be competing against Telugu Yoddhas at the semi finals, and this year we will give our hundred percent to win against them. All the teams are very strong and competitive, so it will be tough to predict who will be winning the match. It will all depend on the teams who will make the least mistakes” said Amit Patil, captain of Chennai Quick Guns.

Telugu Yoddhas will be looking to arrest their worrying dip in form. After looking like a good bet to top the league table all season, they suffered heavy defeats in their last two matches, including a huge 20-point reverse in the last game against Gujarat Giants. They will however take solace from the fact that they did convincingly beat Chennai Quick Guns the last time these two teams met. They will look for inspiration from their captain Pratik Waikar, who is not only the top Wazir in the league this season, but has the most number of pole dives as well.

“Throughout the league stage our team has been performing very well. All the players are giving their best which is a great asset for us, the players are taking charge and helping the team to win. Our opponent during the knock-off stage is Chennai Quick Guns and for them Ramji Kashyap is the strongest player, so we will see how we can strategize for our match at the semis and we will perform well.” said Waikar.

In the other semifinal, defending champions Odisha Juggernauts will hope to keep their impressive run going when they take on Gujarat Giants.

Odisha Juggernauts have been unbeaten over their last five games, winning a number of them convincingly. Their 35-27 victory over Telugu Yoddhas on Sunday was especially impressive. Players like Deepak Sahoo — one of the best Wazirs this season — Gowtham MK and Dilip Khandavi have all stepped up when it mattered. They will also have the luxury of playing in front of a very vocal home crowd that has been a tremendous source of support all season.

However, in Gujarat Giants, they face an opponent that convincingly routed them in the league stages. They did have their revenge in the reverse fixture, but Odisha Juggernauts will not be underestimating their opponents, going into Thursday’s encounter.

“Gujarat Giants are a good team but we are also very confident as we won the last game against them, so I am looking forward to that match,” said Odisha Juggernauts captain Dipesh More. “We are very happy with the crowd support and that is adding the extra advantage to the way we are playing so it feels really good to play in front of our home fans. We are not taking pressure, just thinking about one step at a time. Our first target is to win the semifinals and then we will think about the finals.”

Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants will look to arrest a worrying dip in form. After looking unstoppable in the early stages of the tournament, they have only registered two wins in their last five games. Players like Sanket Kadam, P Narasayya and Rajvardhan Patil have been impressive in patches, but they will need the whole team to come together and contribute if they are to make it to the final.

“Odisha Juggernauts is a strong team and it will be a high voltage match and we are working on the strategy for our next match. We are ready to play against the crowd, we know we will be playing against the crowd and we will give our best. Our focus is both on recovery and training, we are working on our drawbacks and also doing video analysis on our opponent teams” said Akshay, captain of team Gujarat Giants.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches starting at 7.30pm IST.

Cuttack, 10th January 2023: The Ultimate Kho Kho League is well underway and the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants are in great form in their first six matches of the season. Taking place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack, the Giants are second on the points table, with four wins, one loss and a draw to their name.

After the best possible that the team could have, one of their star players Abhinandan Patil was all praise for the management, crediting the Adani Sportsline group for the progress of an indigenous sport like Kho Kho in India. “The facilities that Adani Sportsline has provided are excellent.

“Team management gives the players everything that is required to perform to the best of our abilities. This also motivates us to do well for the team. We have gone from playing Kho Kho in the sand to the mats, thanks to an improvement in the facilities,” shared the 2022 season’s Attacker of the Tournament.

This upgrade from the sands to mats has also translated into form for the players, and Abhinandan is confident of the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants performing well this season. “The Ultimate Kho Kho League also helps us become better players with the high-level of their facilities. This is also visible in the form of the players. In six matches, we have four wins, one draw and just one loss. The team combinations are working, and all the players are performing well in their respective positions. This has helped the Gujarat Giants do well this season.”

A candid Abhinandan also revealed that at the ripe, young age of 19, he was a gold medal winner with India at the South Asian Games in 2018. “When I was 13 years old, I became a fan of the sport of Kho Kho. I used to play in my hometown Kolhapur (Maharashtra). When I was 19 years old, I won the Gold medal with the Indian national team at the South Asian Games,” he said.

He also spoke up about his time with the Railways, saying, “At the age of 21, I started playing with Indian Railways. If not for Kho Kho, I would have been working in the Indian Railways department at Bilaspur as a Junior Clerk. But when we have to play for the Senior Nationals, the Railways give up enough time to practice, so we reward them with medals at the major tournaments.”

Playing the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants for a second straight season, Abhinandan is grateful for the support of the coaching staff, especially head coach Sanjeev Sharma, “Playing for the Gujarat Giants in this league, I have been able to support my family as well. They are also very accepting of me playing Kho Kho. I would also like to thank my Gujarat Giants coach, especially Sanjeev sir. They have helped me improve as a player.”

Concluding on a positive note, Abhinandan wants more youngsters to avail of the facilities that he has currently, and make more Kho Kho stars like him, “I want to help the young up-and-coming boys in my ground and make them into sportspersons like me by providing them with the same kind of facilities and supporting them as much as I can.”

Cuttack, January 9, 2024: Chennai Quick Guns ended the group stages of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 on top with a dominating 38-21 victory over Gujarat Giants at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday.

The result, coupled with Odisha Juggernauts’ win over Mumbai Khiladis, means that Chennai Quick Guns will take on Telugu Yoddhas in the second semifinal on Thursday. The first semifinal will see Odisha Juggernauts take on Gujarat Giants.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group.

Chennai Quick Guns made a good start to Turn 1, sending the first Gujarat Giants batch in under three minutes. The second batch of Shubham Thorat, Rajvardhan Patil and Pabani Sabar, however, managed a dream run point. And with all three members of the third batch staying unconquered, Chennai Quick Guns led 12-1 going into the second turn.

Turn 2 was where Chennai Quick Guns’ defenders killed the match off. Just 24 hours after setting a new record for the longest time spent on the mat by a single batch, Chennai Quick Guns came close to beating it. This time, the batch of Ramji Kashyap, Madan and Vjay Shinde went six minutes and 53 seconds, just seven seconds short of lasting an entire turn unconquered. First Ramji eluded the Gujarat Giants attackers for a full three minutes, then Madan and Vijay chipped in with impressive runs of their own. The trio had earned eight dream run points. Turn 2 featured only the second instance of the defending team scoring more than the attacking team in Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2.

Chennai Quick Guns attackers came to the party in Turn 3, sending back the first two Gujarat Giants batches in under four minutes. With their third batch too failing to see out time, Gujarat Giants were faced with the mathematically-impossible task of closing down a 31-point gap in the final turn.

Earlier, Odisha Juggernauts ended their group stage campaign with a 34-23 victory over Mumbai Khiladis.

Mumbai Khiladis started the match with their first defending batch of Hrushikesh Murchavade, Sibin M, and Pratik Devare securing two dream run points. But Odisha Juggernauts made quick work of the second batch to end Turn 1 with a 12-2 lead.

Turn 2 kicked off with Odisha Juggernauts’ first defending batch of Debendra Nath, Vishal and Nikhil Sodaye securing a dream run point. Their second batch of Vishal Oram, Sobhag Sriganda and Visag S did one better by getting two dream run points. The match, at the end of the first innings, looked tantalisingly poised with the scores at 15-14 in favour of Odisha Juggernauts.

Odisha Juggernauts turned the tide in their favour by making quick work of the first two Mumbai Khiladis batches. That meant that they carried a 15-point lead into the final turn. Manoj Kumar was the pick of the attackers for Odisha with six points.

And if there was a glimmer of hope for Mumbai Khiladis, Odisha Juggernauts’ opening batch of Mahesha P, Niranjan Samal and MD Mirajul killed it with a superb defensive display. They ran rings around the Mumbai Khiladis attackers, securing five dream run points and spending five minutes and 20 seconds on the mat. Mahesha, in particular, was impressive, as he eluded the Mumbai Khiladis attackers for two minutes and 33 seconds.  

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches starting at 7.30pm IST.

Cuttack, January 8, 2024: Chennai Quick Guns ascended to the top of the Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 table with a dominating 42-19 victory over Rajasthan Warriors, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Monday.

The match featured one of the most memorable defensive performances in Ultimate Kho Kho history with a Chennai Quick Guns batch managing to last six minutes and 58 seconds on the mat — the longest ever — and score eight dream run points.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group.

Chennai Quick Guns started the match with an excellent attacking turn. They sent back the first Rajasthan Warriors batch in just 2.28 seconds, with Sachin Bhargo dismissing two defenders with one sky dive. Rajasthan Warriors’ second batch managed a dream run point but Chennai Quick Guns finished the turn on top with a lead of 16-1.

Then came the defensive masterclass that killed the match. The first Chennai Quick Guns batch of Ramji Kashyap, Madan and Vijay Shinde never stopped running as they raked up the dream run points. By the time the final member of the batch — Madan — was dismissed, they were two seconds away from spending an entire turn unconquered and had eight dream run points. Madan, in particular, was outstanding as he kept eluding the Rajasthan Warriors attackers. The score, at the end of the first innings, read 24-7 in favour of Chennai Quick Guns.

The Chennai Quick Guns attackers made short work of three defending batches in Turn 3, leaving Rajasthan Warriors with the mathematically-impossible task of making up a 33-point gap in the final turn.

The heavy defeat means that Rajasthan Warriors have ended a disappointing campaign without a single victory.

Earlier, Gujarat Giants earned a comfortable 42-22 victory over Telugu Yoddhas.

Gujarat Giants started the match off with an excellent defensive performance. The first batch of Vinayak Pokarde, Akshay Bhangare and Ram Mohan ran rings around the Telugu Yoddhas attackers, aided by a series of successful reviews. When they were done, they had amassed a whopping five dream run points. At the end of Turn 1, Telugu Yoddhas only held a slender 8-5 lead.

However Telugu Yoddhas hit back with a good defensive performance of their own in Turn 2. Their first batch of Lipun Mukhi, Prasad Patil and Arunk Gunki managed four dream run points. Gunki, in particular, was impressive, spending nearly three minutes on the mat. However, Gujarat Giants seized back the advantage, sending back the next Telugu Yoddhas batch in no time. The scores, when the innings ended, read 19-12 in favour of the Gujarat Giants.

Telugu Yoddhas needed a big performance in Turn 3 to find their way back into the match, but that did not happen. Gujarat Giants’ first and second defensive batches managed three dream run points combined with Ravi Vasave even managing to remain unconquered. That meant that the scores were locked 22-22, heading into the final turn, leaving Telugu Yoddhas with a near-impossible task. With Gujarat Giants attackers putting up a dominating show in Turn 4, the match ended in a comfortable victory for them.

On Tuesday, Odisha Juggernauts will take on Mumbai Khiladis while Chennai Quick Guns will take on Gujarat Giants in the final round of group games.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches daily starting at 7.30pm IST.

Cuttack, January 7, 2024: Defending champions Odisha Juggernauts rose to the top of the table in front of a passionate home crowd, downing Telugu Yoddhas 35-27 in Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday.

Dilip Khandavi, Omkar Sonawane and Avinash Desai all scored six attack points each as Odisha Juggernauts dominated throughout.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group. Monday’s matches featured a number of special guests, including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who flipped the coin during the toss, and Indian Super League club Odisha FC’s players Lalliansanga Renthlei, Pungte Lapung, Paogoumang Singson and Niraj Kumar, who were in the stands to cheer on the home team.

Odisha Juggernauts got Turn 1 off to a great start with their first batch of Dilip Khandavi, Gowtham MK and Nikhil Sodaye lasting three minutes and 32 seconds on the pitch and getting a couple of three dream run points. Then Rohan Singade frustrated the Telugu Yoddhas attackers, staying unconquered and earning a dream run point. The lead for Telugu Yoddhas, at the end of Turn 1, was just seven points.

Odisha Juggernauts consolidated that advantage with a brilliant attacking turn. They sent back Telugu Yoddhas first batch in a minute and 37 seconds. Their second batch only fared marginally better, staying on the mat for a minute and 48 seconds. Batch 3 did come within fifteen seconds of a dream run point but that did little to reverse the momentum. Odisha Juggernauts headed into the second innings with a strong 23-10 lead.

Things did not get any better for Telugu Yoddhas in Turn 3. Odisha Juggernauts’ first batch of Omkar Sonwane, Dipesh More and Nikhil B lasted three minutes and 57 seconds on the mat, earning two dream run points. Their second batch did not last long but two members of their third batch remained unbeaten as Odisha Juggernauts took a 25-24 lead into the final turn. Their attackers had no problems closing the match off.

Earlier, Mumbai Khiladis recorded their second win of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2, downing Rajasthan Warriors 29-27.

Rajasthan Warriors got their match off to a brilliant start. Their first batch of Satej Patil, Vrushab Wagh and Vijay Hajare scored three dream run points. Hajare, in particular, frustrated the Mumbai Khiladis attackers, spending a minute and 45 seconds on the mat. Mumbai Khiladis only managed to send back two more players in the turn, which meant that they only carried a 10-3 advantage into Turn 2.

That advantage was easily subverted by Rajasthan Warriors in Turn 2 as their attackers sent back two Mumbai Khiladis batches and a player from the third. Mumbai Khiladis did manage two dream run points, but trailed 12-17, going into the second innings.

Rajasthan Warriors’ first batch of Turn 3 missed out on a dream run point by just seven seconds. Their second batch did not manage a dream run point either, and with a player from their third batch getting sent back, Mumbai Khiladis had a route back into the match. Sreejesh S added four attacking points to the four he had in the first innings.

Mumbai Khiladis’ defenders took full advantage of the glimmer of hope that their attackers gave them. Rajasthan Warriors sent back Mumbai Khiladis’ first batch early to come within a couple of dismissals of winning the match. But the second batch of Gajanan Shengal, Sreejesh S and P Siva Reddy put on a brilliant defensive display, bagging three dream run points. Siva Reddy managed to stay unbeaten, giving his team the win.

On Monday, Telugu Yoddhas will take on Gujarat Giants while Chennai Quick Guns will take on Rajasthan Warriors.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches daily starting at 7.30pm IST.

Cuttack, January 6, 2024: Chennai Quick Guns grabbed the final semifinal spot of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2, defeating Mumbai Khiladis 41-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Saturday.

Odisha Juggernauts had qualified for the semifinals earlier in the day with a victory over Gujarat Giants, while the latter and Telugu Yoddhas had made the cut on Friday.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group.

Mumbai Khiladis won the toss and chose to defend but the performance of their defenders in Turn 1 did not vindicate their decision. They did not manage even a single dream run point as Chennai Quick Guns raced to a 16-0 lead.

Chennai Quick Guns consolidated their position with a brilliant defensive display in Turn 2. Their first batch of Ramji Kashyap, Madan and Vijay Shinde managed to last five minutes and 34 seconds on the mat, scoring six dream run points. Two members of their second batch remained unconquered as Chennai Quick Guns carried a massive 22-8 lead into the second innings.

The Chennai Quick Guns attackers continued their good show in Turn 3. They sent back Mumbai Khiladis first batch in two minutes and 20 seconds and their second batch in under two minutes. That left Mumbai Khiladis with the mathematically-impossible task of scoring 30 points in the final turn. That three different players — Suraj Lande, Sachin Bhargo and Akash Kadam — scored six points showed the potency of the Chennai Quick Guns attack.

In an earlier match, Odisha Juggernauts became the third team to make it to the semifinals of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2, scoring a narrow 30-27 victory over Gujarat Giants.

Odisha Juggernauts won an encounter that was too close to call till the final whistle, with Rohan Singade frustrating Gujarat Giants attackers in the final turn and making the difference.

Gujarat Giants won the toss and chose to defend first. Their first batch of Suyash Gargate, Faizankha Pathan and Abhijit Patil managed a dream run point, a feat that the next batch of K Ram Mohan, V Subramani and Rajvardhan Patil emulated. Turn 1 finished 14-2 in favour of Odisha Juggernauts.

Turn 2 started with an amazing defensive show by Odisha Juggernauts. Their first batch of Gowtham MK, Vishal and Dilip Khandavi managed to stay on the pitch for five minutes and 13 seconds, scoring a whopping five dream run points. With Manoj Patil staying unconquered among the second batch, Odisha Juggernauts went into the second innings with a 19-14 lead.

Gujarat Giants’ first Turn 3 batch of Akshay Bhangare, Deepak Madhav and Shubham Thorat managed two dream run points and their second batch carried on the good work. Both Suyash Gargate and Abhijit Patil remained unconquered while netting a dream run point. That meant that Odisha Juggernauts only had a ten-point lead to defend in the final turn.

Odisha Juggernauts needed to emulate their first innings defensive show to salvage the match. Their first batch of Dipesh More, Nikhil B and Omkar Sonawane managed a dream run point, leaving Gujarat Giants with five points to get in little over three minutes. Singade though had other ideas.

Sunday’s matches will see Mumbai Khiladis take on Rajasthan Warriors, and Odisha Juggernauts take on Telugu Yoddhas.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches daily starting at 7.30pm IST.

Cuttack, January 5, 2024: Gujarat Giants became the second team to qualify for the semifinals of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 with a commanding 46-22 victory over Rajasthan Warriors at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Friday. 

The 24-point gap was the largest margin of victory in Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2. An impressive attacking display saw eleven different players contribute attacking points to the Gujarat Giants tally.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group.

Gujarat Giants, who won the toss and chose to defend first, had a good Turn 1 with their first two batches netting a combined three dream run points. They further solidified the advantage with a superb attacking display in Turn 2. Rajasthan Warriors’ first batch lasted a mere minute and 37 seconds. Their second and third batches both fared only marginally better as Gujarat Giants carried an impressive 17-point lead into the second innings. It was truly a team effort from the Gujarat Giants attackers as seven different players managed to score attacking points.

Rajasthan Warriors needed a brilliant Turn 3 to salvage something from the match but things did not get any better for them. The first Gujarat Giants batch of captain Akshay Bhangare, Faizankha Pathan and Abhijit Patil scored two dream run points. The next batch of Ram Mohan, V Subramani and Rajvardhan Patil managed another dream point as Gujarat Giants took a virtually unassailable 30-20 lead into the final turn.

Rajasthan Warriors did get Turn 4 off to a decent start as the first batch of Vijay Hajare, Vrushab Wagh and Sushant Hajare scored two dream run points. However, it was too little too late as Gujarat Giants wrapped up a commanding victory

In an earlier game, Telugu Yoddhas moved to the top of the Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 table with a 38-30 victory over Chennai Quick Guns. The result meant that Telugu Yoddhas became the first team to qualify for the semifinals. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMoBxf9I8eo

Telugu Yoddhas attacked first and they got off to a flier, sending back Chennai Quick Guns’ first batch in just a minute and 43 seconds. Their second batch, which included the in-form Ramji Kashyap, only managed to fare marginally better, lasting a minute and 43 seconds.There was still more than two minutes left when the third batch returned to the bench. And when all three players of the fourth batch went off, there were still 37 seconds left on the clock. Not one of the four Chennai Quick Guns batches managed to last even two minutes. It was a stunning attacking turn from the Telugu Yoddhas as they led 24-0. The star of the show was Mandal with ten points, which included four sky dives and a pole dive. 

Chennai Quick Guns got their quest for a recovery off to a good start in Turn 2 as the first Telugu Yoddhas batch lasted only two minutes and 41 seconds on the mat. However, their second batch of Dhruv, Mandal and Akash Togare frustrated the Chennai Quick Gun attackers, scoring a dream run point. Telugu Yoddhas went into the second innings with a 25-12 lead.

Despite a couple of dream run points in Turn 3, Chennai Quick Guns went into the final turn with a 23-point lead to overturn. It was a lead that Telugu Yoddhas managed to defend despite a good show by the Chennai Quick Guns attackers. 

Saturday will see Gujarat Giants take on Odisha Juggernauts in the first game. Chennai Quick Guns will take on Mumbai Khiladis in the second game.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches daily starting at 7.30pm IST. 

Cuttack, 4^th January 2023: Not many Kho Kho players have their brother as their mentor but the same cannot be said for young V Subramani, who has his elder sibling Saravanan to thank for his entry into the sport. Now representing the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants in the second season of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, the 20-year-old has come a long way in Kho Kho because of the support that he actively received from his family. 

“In class 12, there is the TNKKPL (Tamil Nadu Kho Kho Premier League) is the first time that I got onto the mat for the first time. It was the first time I got to develop as a player. From there, I developed into the player I am now. I did my Under Graduation at PSG College of Arts and Science in Coimbatore. My then Kho Kho coach was very impressed with me and got me a free seat in college so that I could study and play the sport at the same time,” recalled the young attacker.  

With his brother as his mentor, a young and aspiring sportsperson Subramani got all the help he needed, especially with his brother as the captain of the school team. Under his tutelage, and the push from his grandmother, Subramani is blossoming into one of India’s brightest future stars of Kho Kho.  

“He (Saravanan) played with me in the same Kho Kho team. Infact, he was my captain in the school team. Right now, he is an IT professional. But he is my mentor because he is the main reason I am able to stand high in this sport. Other than him, my grandmother was also a very supportive factor in my life. She used to say ‘You play, I will take care of you. You play well, you keep going on as you are,’ she used to motivate me,” 

With the support at home, the next important thing that Subramani needed was the infrastructure, and that came in the form of the TNGR Sports Club in Coimbatore, where he honed his skills. He credits his childhood coach and the head of the TNGR Sports Club for their continued encouragement in promoting Kho Kho, and now, with the help of the Tamil Nadu Kho Kho Association, who Subramani praised as well, the young star wants to see better and brighter players of the sport from his home state. 

“Nelson sir is the secretary of the Tamil Nadu Kho Kho Association Secretary and the Joint Secretary of the Kho Kho Federation of India. He has been very helpful with my development. But it was at the TNGR Sports Club in Coimbatore, led by Padhmanaban Anna, and Ashok sir, who coached me when I was 6 years old, that I got the confidence to pursue the sport and become the player I am now. Now there should be more players like me in the sport from Tamil Nadu, that is my wish.” 

Recently, life turned a corner for Subramani as he joined hands with the Adani Sportsline owned Gujarat Giants. “We have assembled a strong squad in season 2, and it is showing with our results. The team management has given us a free hand to work the way we need to, and that clarity is very essential in a big tournament like that.” 

“It is a very exciting time at the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants. The team is doing well in the second season of the Ultimate Kho Kho League and we are hungry for more. I am grateful to be sharing the dressing room with such experienced and talented players. The goal is set — to win the trophy, and we have the support of the management and we will always do everything to be the best version of ourselves,” he concluded. 

Cuttack, January 3, 2024: Defending champions Odisha Juggernauts notched up a 32-21 victory over Rajasthan Warriors, in Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Wednesday.

The victory was built on the back of a stellar defensive performance by Odisha Juggernauts that saw them score 10 dream run points.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group.

Odisha Juggernauts defenders seized the initiative in Turn 1 with perhaps the greatest defensive performance in Ultimate Kho Kho history. The first batch of Vishal, Gowtham MK and Dilip Khandavi stayed on the mat for a whopping six minutes and 22 seconds, scoring seven dream run points. Dilip, in particular, ran rings around the Rajasthan Warriors attackers. With all three players of Odisha Juggernauts’ second batch remaining unconquered, they took a 7-6 lead into Turn 2. It was the first time in Ultimate Kho Kho history that a defending team had taken the lead in a turn.

Rajasthan Warriors set about limiting the damage in Turn 2, with their first batch of Vijay Hajare, Sushant Hajare and Vrushab Wagh notching up three dream run points. With only one member of the second batch getting out, Odisha Juggernauts’ lead, going into the second innings, was limited to six points. 

Rajasthan Warriors made a strong start to Turn 3, sending back Odisha Juggernauts’s first batch early. However, they were frustrated by the second batch of Dipesh More, Nikhil B and Omkar Sonawane, with the latter staying on the mat for three dream run points. That left Rajasthan Warriors with a slender 21-18 lead going into the final turn. The Odisha Juggernauts attackers had no problems overturning that in Turn 4.

In an earlier game, Telugu Yoddhas stamped their dominance over an off-colour Mumbai Khiladis, notching up a 40-22 victory. This was the biggest margin of victory this season as Telugu Yoddhas leapfrogged Gujarat Giants into second place. 

It was Telugu Yoddhas who attacked first and they made the most of it, scoring 16 points in Turn 1 while only allowing their opponents a single dream run point. It was a team effort from the Telugu Yoddhas attackers, with six different players contributing to their team’s tally. 

They consolidated that advantage with a stunning defensive display in Turn 2. Their first batch of Pratik Waikar, Avdhut Patil and Aditya Ganpule stayed on the mat for five minutes and 17 seconds, garnering five dream run points. All three members of their second batch managed to remain unconquered as the first innings finished with Telugu Yoddhas leading 21-7. It was the lowest attacking turn of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2.

It was always going to be a long road back from there for the Mumbai Khiladis and their fortunes did not change for the better in Turn 3. Their first batch lasted a mere minute and 33 seconds. Their third batch, consisting of Hrushikesh Murchavade, Sibin M and Pratik Devare, did fare better, scoring a dream run point. But that made little difference to the overall picture as Telugu Yoddhas went into the final turn with a mammoth 29-point lead.

Thursday will see Telugu Yoddhas take on leaders Chennai Quick Guns while Gujarat Giants will take on Rajasthan Warriors.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches daily starting at 7.30pm IST. 

Cuttack, 3^rd January 2023: Gujarat Giants’ ace defender Deepak Madhav has been a mainstay in the sport of Kho Kho for almost a decade. Having been signed on by the Adani Sportsline-owned team for the second season of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, which began on December 24, the 27-year-old defender is ready to take his game a notch up, but the road to stardom has not been easy for the Maharashtrian Kho Kho star. 

Just as he was making his career, winning laurels and on the way to fame, his father suffered a serious health illness which forced him to work as a newspaper vendor as well as a milkman. Talking about his initial struggles, and why Kho Kho was the sport for him, Deepak said, “Kho Kho is a sport which does not need more than a shorts and sandal and a ground to play. Most of the other sports needed a lot of efforts which, at that moment, was not possible because my father had a heart surgery then. So, the burden was mostly on my brother so pursing any other sport was not a big possibility.  

Despite this, his aim was fixed — playing for the Railways. He worked hard towards that goal, and did not let setbacks stop him from achieving his dreams. “When I started playing Kho Kho, I was always selected for the state but was never able to break into the nationals. Always in the stand-bys. During one such U18s State Championship, I performed very well through the knockouts and won a prize as well. This led to my selections in the nationals. This paved the way to the Maharashtra team and then the Senior Nationals and eventually the Railways side, which was my eventual dream.” 

“It took me four attempts to break into the Railways team. In the first three tries the more senior members of the team got through so when I got selected for the Railways team, it was my breakthrough moment in the sport,” an emotional Deepak said. 

His hard work has paid dividends. Deepak is now a regular India international, and a gold medal winner at the South Asian Games in 2018, even missing his sister’s wedding for the same. “I have sacrificed attending my sister’s wedding in 2018, and my brother’s wedding in 2019, for Kho Kho. In 2018, I was representing India at the South Asian Games in Nepal. We won the Gold for the country at the South Asian Games and this, I considered as one of my biggest achievements in the sport. The perfect return gift for my sister, and a very proud moment for my family,” recalled the defender.  

And having missed out on the title in the season 1 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, Deepak is ready to go the distance with the Giants, a team that he loves for a variety of reasons.  

“I missed out on the trophy last time around by 5 seconds. This time, with the Gujarat Giants, I want to fulfil what I could not and secure the title for my team. We have received great support from the Adani Sportsline team, they’ve made us feel at home, kept us motivated to go for the win at all times,” he noted. 

With season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League turning towards the business end, the Gujarat Giants are well on their way to the final four. “I have played in a few teams over my career so far, and not just me, everyone will agree that this is one of the best team managements we could have found. They back us to the hilt and the overall feeling in the camp is also very good, and you can see it when we are playing,” the defender signed off.  

Cuttack, January 2, 2024: Lightning struck twice at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday as both matches of the day in Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 finished in ties. After Chennai Quick Guns and Odisha Juggernauts played out the second consecutive tie between them, the match between Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Khiladis finished 26-26.

The latter result saw a terrific comeback by Gujarat Giants in the final turn as they defended a narrow seven-point lead. 

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group.

There was little to separate Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Khiladis in the first innings — in fact, their stats mirrored the other’s. Gujarat Giants attacked first and managed ten points including two sky dive points, while the Mumbai Khiladis scored three dream run points. Then in Turn 2, Mumbai Khiladis managed ten points, including two sky dive points, while conceding three dream run points to their opponents.

The match tilted in the favour of Mumbai Khiladis in Turn 3. Their first batch of Aniket Pote, Subhasis Santra and Dhiraj Bhave frustrated the Gujarat Giants attackers, adding two dream run points to their team’s tally. The next batch of Rokeson Singh, Avik Singha and Abhishek Pathrode added one more as Gujarat Giants went into the final turn with just a seven-point lead.

Faizankha Pathan complicated the equation for Mumbai Khiladis by scoring a couple of dream run points. Then Ram Mohan frustrated the Mumbai Khiladis by remaining unconquered and earning a dream run point as well.  

In an earlier match, Chennai Quick Guns and Odisha Juggernauts played out an exciting 30-30 tie at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Cuttack. The reverse fixture between these two teams had also ended in a tie.

Odisha Juggernauts’ decision to attack, after winning the toss, backfired with Chennai Quick Guns managing three dream run points in Turn 1. Laxman Gawas, from the first batch, dodged the Odisha Juggernauts attackers long enough to garner two dream run points. Then, star all-rounder Ramji Kashyap stayed unconquered, earning his thirteenth dream run point of the season.  

Things went from bad to worse for Odisha Juggernauts after their first batch was dismissed without much time spent on the mat. Then Nikhil B single-handedly dragged the Odisha outfit back into the match, earning three dream run points. The match, as it headed into the second innings, was evenly poised with the Chennai Quick Guns leading 15-13.

The match tilted firmly in Odisha Juggernauts’ favour in Turn 3 as their attackers sent the first two Chennai Quick Guns batches back, with almost three-and-a-half seconds left on the clock. Ramji, then, managed his customary dream run point, leaving his team’s attackers with the task of making up a 13-point gap in the final turn.

That quest started well enough with Chennai Quick Guns managing to send back the Odisha outfits first batch with enough time on the clock. However, Rohan Singade frustrated the Chennai Quick Guns attackers, earning a vital bonus point for his team.

Wednesday will see Mumbai Khiladis take on Telugu Yoddhas in the first game. Win-less Rajasthan Warriors will face Odisha Juggernauts in the second game.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches daily starting at 7.30pm IST. 

Cuttack, January 1, 2024: Telugu Yoddhas secured their second successive victory in the Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 as they beat Rajasthan Warriors 34-27 on Monday, while Chennai Quick Guns continued their unbeaten run to inflict the first defeat on Gujarat Giants by 35-29 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack.

For Telugu Yoddhas, Pratik Waikar scored the most 8 points in the contest. Aditya Ganpule and Rahul Mandal also contributed to the attack with a total of 12 points.

Aditya and Akash Tagore stayed on the mat for more than 4 minutes and earned crucial dream run bonus points for the winning side as well.

Promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, Ultimate Kho Kho became a huge hit in the first season, emerging as India’s third-largest non-cricket league in terms of television viewership. It also became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy of the UK-based BNP Group.

The first turn saw a close contest between both teams as Rajasthan Warriors earned 2 dream run bonus points, whereas Telugu Yoddhas registered 14 points.

The Telugu Yoddhas extended their lead in the second turn when they switched to defence, limiting their opponents to only 10 points. They also earned three dream run bonus points before showcasing a sublime attacking performance, claiming a total of 16 points in the third turn.

In the end, the target proved too big for Rajasthan as they could only pick up 14 points in the final turn to face another defeat in Season 2.

Earlier, Ramji Kashyap proved to be the main man for Chennai once again as he clinched 10 points and stayed on the mat for more than four minutes to earn crucial dream run bonus points for his team.

Chennai Quick Guns began the contest positively, allowing Gujarat Giants to claim only 14 points in the first turn. They also earned two dream run bonus points to reduce the difference before the start of the following turn that went in the favour of Gujarat.

The first batch of Shubham Thorat, Deepak Madhav and Faizankha Pathan attained three crucial dream run bonus points as Chennai could only manage to notch up 8 points during the attack.

Ramji Kashyap brought Chennai Quick Guns back into the game during the third turn when he showcased a sublime defensive display and earned record five dream run bonus points for the first time in Season 2.

On the other hand, Gujarat managed to accumulate only 12 points in attack, establishing a 16-point target. Chennai chased the target by securing a total of 20 points in the final turn to seize victory.

Chennai Quick Guns will now take on defending champions Odisha Juggernauts on Tuesday, while Mumbai Khiladis will go up against Gujarat Giants.

The exciting action of Season 2 will be telecasted on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLIV with live coverage of daily two matches starting at 7:30 PM IST.

Cuttack, December 30, 2023:  Ramji Kashyap showcased his all-round brilliance on the mat once again in the Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 as Chennai Quick Guns defeated Mumbai Khiladis 36-31 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Saturday.

Kashyap scored 10 points including three skydives during the attack and also stayed on the mat for more than 4 minutes to earn crucial dream run bonus points for the winning side.

Promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, Ultimate Kho Kho became a huge hit in the first season, emerging as India’s third-largest non-cricket league in terms of television viewership. It also became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy of the UK-based BNP Group.

Chasing first, Mumbai Khiladis began the contest on a positive note and earned a total of 16 points. However, Chennai also managed to earn a dream run bonus point that helped them increase their lead in the following turn.

They claimed 18 points before the end of the first inning courtesy of a startling performance from Kashyap, who won six points during the second turn to put his team in a comfortable position.

Subhasis Santra and Hrushikesh Murchavade notched up eight points while attacking in the third turn as Mumbai Khiladis got 14 points to increase the difference between the teams. However, Chennai chased the target easily in the last turn to register their third win in the league.

Telugu Yoddhas will take on defending champions Odisha Juggernauts on Sunday, while Rajasthan Warriors will face Mumbai Khiladis.

The exciting action of Season 2 will be telecasted on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLIV with live coverage of daily two matches starting at 7:30 PM IST.

Cuttack, December 29, 2023: Ramji Kashyap and Sachin Bhargo displayed fine performances as Chennai Quick Guns registered a 31-27 win over Rajasthan Warriors in the ongoing Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Friday.

Ramji scored 8 points during the attack to take his points tally to a total of 30 points in the league. He stayed on the mat for more than a minute as well to contribute to his team’s dream run bonus points, while Sachin claimed six points in attack.

Meanwhile, Ramji also won the award for the best attacker in the league so far and the award for best defender went to Aditya Ganpule of Telugu Yoddhas. Odisha Juggernauts’ Deepak Sahoo was named the player with the best pole dive, while Rahul Mandal of Telugu Yoddhas clinched the award for the best skydive in the ongoing season.

Mumbai Khiladis’ Rokeson Singh took the award for best dodge in the Ultimat Kho Kho Season 2 so far.Promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, Ultimate Kho Kho became a huge hit in the first season, emerging as India’s third-largest non-cricket league in terms of television viewership. It also became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy of the UK-based BNP Group.

Attacking first, Rajasthan Warriors went off to a slow start in the first turn and gave away three dream run bonus points to Chennai Quick Guns. The team also only managed to grab 10 points with captain Majahar Jamadar notching up four points.

However, Rajasthan made a remarkable comeback in the second turn as they displayed an extraordinary defensive game to earn three dream run bonus points and allowed Chennai Quick Guns to win only 10 points.

The second inning saw fine performances by the attackers and Rajasthan Warriors took a 14 points lead going into the final turn where Chennai proved to be a better team.

They won 18 points during the fourth turn to clinch the match.Mumbai Khiladis will clash with Chennai Quick Guns on Saturday while defending champions Odisha Juggernauts will play against Gujarat Giants.

The exciting action of Season 2 will be telecasted on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLIV with live coverage of daily two matches starting at 7:30 PM IST.

Cuttack, December 27, 2023: Defending champions Odisha Juggernauts returned to winning ways in the ongoing Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 with a 31-28 victory over Mumbai Khiladis, while Telugu Yoddhas defeated Rajasthan Warriors 38-28 by a big margin at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Wednesday.

Odisha Juggernauts have now secured the top spot in the points table with eight points from three matches, while Telugu Yoddhas have claimed the second position with a total of six points.

Promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, Ultimate Kho Kho became a huge hit in the first season, emerging as India’s third-largest non-cricket league in terms of television viewership. It also became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy of the UK-based BNP Group.

Chasing first, Mumbai Khiladis made a balanced start to the match as they did not give any dream run bonus points to the defending champions early on. However, they only managed to grab 14 points in the first turn as Odisha returned to the contest by claiming 14 points during the following turn.

Mumbai went into the second inning with a point advantage courtesy of a dream run bonus point in the second turn. They further won 12 points in the third turn and allowed Odisha to earn a dream run bonus point as well.

The last turn turned out to be in the favour of the defending champions as they attained 16 points with sublime attacking to register a remarkable victory.

Earlier, Rahul Mandal proved to be the star of the match for Telugu Yoddhas with 10 points. Pratik Waikar and Aditya Ganpule also contributed to the team’s victory by staying on the mat for more than 3.95 minutes to earn dream run bonus points during the defence.

Rajasthan Warriors took a dream run bonus point early on in the first turn before Telugu Yoddhas fought back valiantly and claimed 18 points while chasing. The Yoddhas showcased the same determination when they switched to defence as they earned two dream run bonus points, allowing Rajasthan to grab only 12 points.

Telugu Yoddhas began the second inning on a positive note and took a significant lead after scoring 18 points in the third turn. Rajasthan earned a dream run bonus point, but they failed to surpass Telugu’s score in the last turn and only managed to secure 14 points.

Rajasthan Warriors will now take on Chennai Quick Guns on Friday, while Telugu Yoddhas will go up against table-toppers Gujarat Giants.

The exciting action of Season 2 will be telecasted on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLIV with live coverage of daily two matches starting at 7:30 PM IST. 

Cuttack, December 26, 2023: Gujarat Giants continue their sparkling form as they defeated Mumbai Khiladis 34-30 to register their second straight win in the ongoing Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday.

Abhinandan Patil was the star of the match for the winning side with 14 points. Faizankha Pathan, Suyash Gargate and Shubham Thorat also contributed to Gujarat’s victory by staying on the mat for more than 5 minutes.

Promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, Ultimate Kho Kho became a huge hit in the first season, emerging as India’s third-largest non-cricket league in terms of television viewership. It also became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy of the UK-based BNP Group.

For Mumbai Khiladis, Rohan Kore (8) scored the most points in the match.

The game began positively for Mumbai Khiladis as they earned a dream run bonus point in the first turn and allowed Gujarat Giants to secure only 14 points. However, Gujarat quickly turned the tide during turn 2 and claimed 3 dream run bonus points while defending.

They also allowed Mumbai to get only 8 points with their sublime defence and carried the momentum forward in the second inning as well.

Gujarat Giants notched up 14 points in the third turn while Mumbai won a dream run bonus point as well. However, it was enough for Gujarat Giants to register a victory despite Mumbai earning 20 points in the final turn.

Mumbai Khiladis will now go up against the defending champions Odisha Juggernauts while Rajasthan Warriors will face Telugu Yoddhas on Wednesday.

The exciting action of Season 2 will be telecasted on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLIV with live coverage of daily two matches starting at 7:30 PM IST.