Team India's Women Storm into Finals with Dominant Victory

Mumbai, January 19, 2025 - Team India's women are on a mission for the ultimate win as they stormed into the finals of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup with a commanding victory over South Africa. The Indian women dominated their semifinal match, showcasing exceptional tactics to secure a resounding 66-16 win.

The team is now set to face Nepal in an exciting final clash. The Women in Blue started strong with a stellar Dream Run by Chaithra B, who continued even after teammates Nazia Bibi and Nirmala Bhati were eliminated. Chaithra single-handedly added 5 points before being caught by South Africa's Sinethemba Mosia, bringing India close to South Africa's 8 points at the end of Turn 1.

However, Reshma took charge as the Indian women dismantled South Africa's defense, scoring in quick succession. This dominant performance left the score at 33-10 by the end of Turn 2, setting the stage for an emphatic victory.

A Dream Run for the Indian women's team in their second match closed out Turn 3, as Vaishnavi Powar, Nasreen Shaikh, and Bhilardevi went on for 5 minutes. Their 5 points headlined the third turn as the score stood at 38-16, giving them a strong platform heading into the final 7 minutes of their semifinal clash.

The longest batch for the South Africans in Turn 4 lasted just 1 minute and 45 seconds as the Indians sealed their place in the final.

Men's Team Books Spot in Final with Impressive Victory

In a captivating display of skill and resilience, the Indian men's Kho Kho team overcame a strong South African challenge to book their spot in the final with an impressive 62-42 victory.

The Indian men surged past South Africa in the semifinals, with Pratik Waikar and Aditya Ganpule playing key roles in the team's success. The Men in Blue started strong with Aniket Pote dragging his batch to 2 minutes and 38 seconds, before Nikhil B took center stage in Turn 2.

Khozi of South Africa was the main threat to the Indian defenders in Turn 3, but Akash Kumar got Khoza and Mehul to give India an extremely important start to Turn 4. With 5 minutes and 10 seconds left on the clock, Mehul turned up the heat with a move that took them above their opponents.

The victory sets up a thrilling final clash between Team India and Nepal Women, who qualified for the finals by beating Uganda 89-18 in their semifinal clash. The finale is scheduled to take place LIVE on Star Sports, Disney+Hotstar, and other entertainment channels tomorrow.

Catch the action LIVE as these teams strive to become the champions of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup!