Bhubaneswar: The 40th Junior Kho Kho National Championship was inaugurated here on Wednesday with the captains of participating teams taking a pledge of Fair Play.
Odisha boys made a roaring start in Group D, routing Madhya Pradesh 28-6. Odisha’s other opponents are Karnataka, Bihar and Meghalaya.
The five-day event is being held at Biju Patnaik Indoor Hall, KIIT Deemed University.
Over 600 players from 53 teams from states and union territories are vying for glory.
Among dignitaries present at the opening ceremony were KIIT & KISS Founder and Member of Parliament Achyuta Samanta, Odisha Hockey Promotion Council chairman Dilip Tirkey, Odisha government’s Sports and Youth Services Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary R. Vineel Krishna, Kho Kho Federation of India secretary General MS Tyagi, Odisha Kho Kho Association president (OKKA) Narayan Patra and OKKA secretary Pradyumna Mishra.
“Kho Kho is a game close to our heart, and I congratulate the Govt of Odisha, Kho Kho Federation of India, and Odisha Kho Kho Association for taking the initiative to host the Junior National Championship here,” Achyuta Samanta said after announcing the championship open.
