THE inaugural Ultimate Kho-Kho, a franchise based tournament has given a new lease of life to the game as well as players all over the country.

Earlier, the players hardly got any chance to showcase their talent and it was limited till the national championship.

But with the new ‘Pro League’, the players are basking in the glory and are enjoying the stardom as they are watched by millions across the country on TV.

The league has three players from Nagpur, basically from Katol, who too are relishing the stardom in this league.Praful Bhange, Shubham Jambhale and Dilraj Singh Sengar are part of the competition which is evoking good response in its first edition itself.

Twenty-four-year-old Bhange, who plays for Gujarat Giants as a defender, is son of a farmer. Bhange has represented Vidarbha Youth teams in nationals since he started playing when he was 11. Bhange is too happy to be part of this league. “I am happy to get this platform to showcase my talent. We are getting the best of the facilities. Now we are getting a proper training and diet and we are enjoying playing on mat,” he said while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ from Pune where the league is being played.

Bhange said they are learning to play on the mat after learning the tricks of trade on mud grounds.

“Though it (mat) needs more strength and stamina, we are enjoying it,” said Bhange who plays for Vidarbha Youth Katol Club. As for the popularity of the game, Bhange said that his club in Katol has seen sudden rise in new players. “The players have increased at our club after watching Ultimate Kho Kho,” said Bhange who has played four senior nationals, two junior nationals, two sub-junior nationals and also attended Asian Camp in Pune and National camp in Delhi in 2022.

Another player from Katol Gujarat Giants’ Shubham Jambhale is a B.Com graduate. The 26-year-old, an all-rounder, has represented India in Nepal test series, Vidarbha and RTM Nagpur University team twice and Maharashtra State Police team as well. Jambhale, who loves cycling and reading books and also follows cricket, football and kabaddi, said that he is loving the new challenge of playing on the mat. “I am happy to be part of this league. Playing on the mat is really a good change. The standard of the game is also improving as well as the performance of the players by playing on the mat.” Jambhale wants to see kho-kho develop on the lines of cricket and is happy that his tribe is growing in his area. “At my club, Vidarbha Krida Mandal in Katol, there has been an increase in the number of players. There are now several budding players practicing daily in Katol. They all are enjoying the game on television. We get several calls from players from our area and they laud our performance,” said Jambhale.

Rajasthan Warriors’ Dilrajsing Sengar thanked the organisers for starting the league which has helped hundreds of players across the country.“It is the best thing to happen for kho kho. Now, we can play this game as a profession. We are getting the best facilities here and are learning new things daily,” said Sengar.

The all-rounder feels that the game will only go northward in his region. “The game will develop immensely. It will build interest in budding players. Earlier, there used to be a break after national championships but from now onwards, players will get a chance to play in professional leagues as well,” hoped the 26-year-old who is a Diploma holder in Pharmaceuticals. Sengar has played six senior nationals, four junior nationals and a sub-junior national. He was also part of the Indian team for the test series against England.