Chariots, Chakravyuhs, and Champions: The 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship at Kurushetra

Chariots, Chakravyuhs, and Champions: The 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship

Kurukshetra, the historic land of the Mahabharata, has once again become a battlefield—but this time, the weapons are speed, agility, and tactical brilliance. From January 31 to February 4, 2026, the 35th Sub-Junior National Kho Kho Championship has taken center stage at Keshav Park, bringing together the finest young talent from across India to the very soil where the legends of "active chase" began.

An Ancient Heritage: From the Chakravyuh to the Mat

The choice of Kurukshetra as the host city is deeply symbolic. Kho Kho is not merely a modern sport; it is an indigenous legacy believed to have roots in the Mahabharata.

• The Legend of Abhimanyu: It is widely held that the defensive tactics of Kho Kho—specifically "Ring Play"—were inspired by the legendary Chakravyuh formation. During the 13th day of the Great War, Guru Dronacharya created this circular, impenetrable defensive wall.

• Tactical Brilliance: Just as Abhimanyu used his incredible speed and zig-zag maneuvers to breach the Kauravas' formation, a modern Kho Kho defender uses similar "Chain Play" and "Ring Play" to weave through chasers.

• The Evolution of Rathera: In ancient times, the game was known as Rathera, as it was played on chariots (Raths). Today, the chariots have been replaced by high-speed sprints on modern mats, but the spirit of the warrior remains unchanged.

  

  Kho Kho is the fragrance of the Indian soil. It is our collective responsibility to establish these traditional games globally." — Nayab Singh Saini, Chief Minister of Haryana, during the inauguration.

Tournament Highlights: The 2026 Edition

The 35th edition of the Sub-Junior Nationals (Ages under 14) has seen an unprecedented scale of participation and professional standard.

Feature	Tournament Details
Total Teams	70 (35 Boys, 35 Girls)
Participants	~1,100 young athletes from 27 States and 5 UTs
Venue	Keshav Park, Kurukshetra (4 Playfields, including 3 Mat Courts)
Inauguration	Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar
Special Technology	Introduction of DRS (Decision Review System) for the knockout stages

The Road to the Title

As the tournament reaches its climax, the competition has been fierce. Maharashtra, the defending champions in both categories, entered the tournament as favorites, but they face stiff challenges from the host state Haryana and last year's runners-up, Karnataka.

The tournament followed a grueling league-cum-knockout format. Over 120 matches were played in the first three days alone, testing the stamina and "quick-thinking" reflexes of these sub-junior players.

By :

Voice of International Player

Pankaj Malhotra 

Jammu & Kashmir