Nepal Falls Short Against India in Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup Opener

Kathmandu – Nepal’s men’s team put up a commendable fight but narrowly lost to hosts India in the opening match of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup. The match, held on Monday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, ended with a close scoreline of 42–37 in favor of India.

Despite India’s early dominance, led by captain Pratik Waikar, Nepal’s defenders managed to hold their ground, showcasing resilience and skill throughout the game. However, India surged ahead with a strong performance in Turn 1, taking a commanding 14-point lead.

In the second half, India’s Sachin Bhargo, replacing Waikar as the ‘Wazir,’ further extended their lead with an impressive skydive that brought India’s tally to 24 touchpoints by the break.

Nepal will look to regroup and bounce back in their next match against Peru, scheduled for Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, Nepal’s women’s team, captained by Saraswati Kathayat, began their campaign with a dominant victory over Bhutan and will face Germany in their second group-stage match.