CHHATRAPATI Awardee Prashant Patankar shed light on popular tag game kho kho that was invented in Maharashtra and is one of the two most popular traditional tag games in the Indian subcontinent, the other being kabaddi. The sport is widely played across South Asia and has a strong presence in South Africa and England, said Patankar during his ‘Workshop On Kho kho’ that was a part of the week-long workshop on ‘Games : New Rules, Regulations and Benefits’ on Wednesday. Speaking from Mumbai, Patankar, who is Chhatrapati Awardee (Coach, 2015), Convenor of Maharashtra Kho Kho Association (MKKA) and Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI); HOD, Sports Department, Sahyadri Vidya Mandir, Bhandup, Mumbai and an International Referee, informed the participants in detail about the sport. Patankar shared some history related to the tag sport.

 

The traditional Indian sport is one of the oldest forms of outdoor sport, dating back to prehistoric India. The origin of kho kho is very difficult to trace, but many historians believe that it is a modified form of Run and Chase which in its simplest form involves chasing and touching a person. Originating in Maharashtra, kho kho in ancient times was played on rath or chariots and was known as Rathera, he informed. He then explained its evolution. It was an adoption from the time of World War I in 1914. But at that time, there were neither any dimensions of the playground nor the poles which demarcate the central line.

 

The time factor was also missing. The Deccan Gymkhana Club of Pune, Maharashtra so named and baptised by the great Indian leader Lokmanya Tilak and Bhai Narorkar drafted the first-ever kho kho rules and regulations which symbolised the metamorphosis of the game soon to follow. Kho kho featured in the Asian Games, 1982 for the first time in New Delhi. On rules and playing conditions, Patankar said, that the sport is played by teams of 12 nominated players out of fifteen, of which nine enter the field who sit on their knees (chasing team), and 3 extra (defending team) who try to avoid being touched by members of the opposing team. Kho kho a match consists of two innings with each inning consisting of chasing and running turns of 9 minutes each. One team sits on their knees in the middle of the court, 8 in a row, with adjacent members facing opposite directions. Patankar explained main points and rules of kho kho including — the runner or the chaser is decided by toss. A match consists of two innings of chasing and defending turns, which is each of 9 minutes.

 

The captain of chasing side may end the turn before allotted time. The side that scores more wins a match. The playing field is rectangular. It is 27 by 16 metres (89 ft × 52 ft) in size. Earlier, Joint Secretary of the Organising Committee Dr Prashant Khalatkar introduced the guest speaker on third day of the online workshop organised jointly by five colleges — Department of Sports and Physical Education, SB City College, Nagpur; SK Porwal College Kamptee; Arts College, Sihora; Shri Niketan Arts Commerce College, Nagpur, DD Bhoyar College of Arts and Science, Mouda.

 

A large number of students participated during the session. The workshop was successfully completed with the hard work of the entire organising committee led by Organising Secretary Dr Indrajit Basu, Organising Convenor Dr Sanjay Choudhary, Organising Co-Convenor Dr Jaikumar Kshirsagar and Organising Joint Secretary Dr Prashant Khalatkar. Organising Committee members are Dr Rajesh Alone, Dr Prashant Bambal, Dr Jayant Ramteke, Prof Kalpana Mishra and Prof. Mallika Nagpure. The programme was conducted by Prof Mishra while Dr. Sanjay Choudhary proposed a vote of thanks.