India commenced their journey in the Kho Kho World Cup 2025 with a triumphant 42-37 win against Nepal at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Monday. Under the leadership of captain and team Wazir, Pratik Waikar, India’s all-encompassing performance marked a fantastic day of Kho Kho, setting the stage for their quest for the ultimate prize.
The match was defined by India’s explosive start, wrapping up Nepal’s initial three defenders within just 60 seconds of Turn 1. With Pratik Waikar and Ramji Kashyap executing spectacular flying jumps, India surged ahead with a notable 14-point lead, three minutes into Turn 1, having already dismissed two sets of Nepal defenders.
Sachin Bhargo, substituting for Pratik Waikar as the ‘Wazir,’ stole the show with a sensational skydive, catapulting India’s score to 24 touch points at the break and preventing Nepal from achieving a ‘Dream Run’ – a scenario where defenders survive three minutes without being dismissed, earning the defending team one point every 30 seconds.
In Turn 2, Nepal took almost two minutes to amass six points but managed a strong comeback by preventing India’s defenders from achieving a Dream Run, garnering 20 points in their turn. Nepal’s all-rounder, Jogendra Rana, emerged as a key player, earning four points, including two dives, and keeping his team competitive.
Nepal’s Bharat Saru achieved the first Dream Run of the Kho Kho World Cup 2025, but it fell short as India extended their score from 24 to 42 points, pushing the host team’s lead to a commanding 21 points heading into the fourth Turn.
During Turn 4, Jhalak BK shone for Nepal, reducing the deficit to five points. Despite this late push, it wasn’t enough to stop Team India from securing an impressive victory, giving the host nation a stellar start to the Kho Kho World Cup 2025.
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