THIRTY-FIVE boys’ teams and an equal number of girls’ teams from across India will compete in the 35th Sub Junior National Kho Kho Championship 2025–26, scheduled to be held from 31 January to 4 February at Kurukshetra, Haryana.
The championship will see participation from 27 states, five Union Territories: Puducherry, Ladakh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Chandigarh, and Jammu & Kashmir along with three associate member associations: Madhya Bharat, Kolhapur and Vidarbha.
Matches will be played at Keshav Park, Kurukshetra, across four playfields, including three mat courts. Around 1,100 players are expected to take part, supported by nearly 300 coaches and technical officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the tournament.
The competition will follow a league-cum-knockout format. A total of 120 matches will be played over the first three days, followed by pre-quarterfinals and quarterfinals on 3 February, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled for 4 February.
The previous edition of the Sub Junior National Kho Kho Championship was held in Simdega, Jharkhand, from 28 September to 2 October 2024, where Maharashtra emerged champions in both the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) president Sudhanshu Mittal said, “The young budding talents need proper handholding and nurturing. The federation is committed to providing them best-in-class training and facilities so that they continue their career in the sport and achieve great heights. My best wishes to all our sub-junior players.”
Haryana Sports Kho Kho Association president Jawahar Singh Yadav added, “It is a happy moment for Haryana. After the 2012 Junior National in Gurugram the Sub-Junior National of Kho Kho is happening in Haryana in 2026. Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar will inaugurate the Championship on 31st January. Hon’ble Minister Haryana Shri Krishan Lal Panwar and Hon’ble MP Rajya Sabha Shri Subhash Barala would also be present on the occasion. Hon’ble Minister Shri Krishna Kumar Bedi will visit during the Championship.”
