In the 55th National Men’s and Women’s Kho Kho championship, both the men’s and women’s teams of Maharashtra have entered the knockout stages, maintaining their winning streak. The men’s team won easily over Madhyabharat and the women’s team won easily over Uttar Pradesh. In the pre-quarter round, Maharashtra men’s team will face Gujarat and women’s team will face Andhra Pradesh.
This competition is organized by Osmanabad District Khokho Association with the approval of Indian Kho-kho Federation and Maharashtra Kho-kho Association. The competition will continue till November 24 at Tuljabhawani District Sports Complex.
In the women’s group match Maharashtra defeated Uttar Pradesh by an innings of 21-9. Maharashtra’s Priyanka Ingle scored 8 points while attacking. Apeksha Sutar (2:30 min. defense) and Dipali Rathod (2:05 min. defense). Pooja Fargade and Sampada More scored 2 points each. Reshma Rathod, Snehal Jadhav, Priti Kale scored 1 point each and played a significant role in the victory of the innings. In defence, Ashwini Shinde (3:05 min. of defence), Sampada More (1:15 min), Snehal Jadhav (1:40 min. of unbeaten defence) played important knocks. After taking a 21-4 lead at the interval, Maharashtra again protected Uttar Pradesh by following on. After the follow-on, Maharashtra’s Priti Kale (2:30 min. defense), Gauri Shinde (1:25 min. defense) and Rupali Bade (1:50 min. defense) played well. Kajal of Uttar Pradesh performed well.
In the men’s group, Maharashtra beat Madhya Bharat 21-9 by an innings. Madhya Bharat won the toss and accepted the defense. In the first attacking innings, Maharashtra player Rishikesh Murchawde scored 4 points, Laxman Gavas, Nihar Duble, Suraj Lande scored 3 points each. Aniket Pote, Gajanan Shengal managed to score 2 points each. For Maharashtra, Pratik Waikar (3 min defense and 1 point), Laxman Gavas (2:40 min defense), Rishikesh Murchawde (1:30 min defense) and Ramji Kashyap (1:10 min defense and 1 point). After a 21-5 half-time lead, Maharashtra again defended by following on Madhya Bharat. At that time, Maharashtra’s Dilip Khandvi (2:30 min. defense), Aditya Ganpule (2:10 min. defense), Gajanan Shengal (1:50 min. defense), Aniket Pote (1:10 min. defense) and Akshay Bhangre (1:10 min. defense) :20 min unbeaten defence) played well. Central India’s Abhishek played well.