43rd Junior National Kho-Kho Championship Maharashtra Secures Double Gold Crown for the 10th Consecutive Time

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43rd Junior National Kho-Kho Championship

Maharashtra Secures Double Gold Crown for the 10th Consecutive Time

Boys Win 19th Consecutive Title; Girls Win 10th Consecutive Title

Overall, Boys Win 35th Title, Girls Win 26th Title

Jitendra Vasave from Dharashiv Wins the ‘Veer Abhimanyu’ Award, Suhani Dhotre Wins the ‘Janaki’ Award

 

Aligarh, November 29, In the 43rd Junior National Kho-Kho Championship for boys and girls, Maharashtra's teams clinched the championship for the 10th consecutive time, securing a double gold crown.

The matches, held at the Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar Sports Stadium in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, concluded with celebrations from players and spectators alike. This victory marks the 19th consecutive title for the boys’ team and the 10th consecutive title for the girls’ team. Overall, Maharashtra’s boys have now won 35 titles, and the girls have claimed 26 national championships.

In the finals played on Friday, Maharashtra defeated Odisha in both categories. In the girls’ category, an all-round performance by Ashwini Shinde (3.30, 2.30 minutes defense, and 2 points) helped Maharashtra secure a 24-20 win, maintaining a lead of 4 points and 5.10 minutes kipping spare. By halftime, Maharashtra led 14-10. Players like Tanvi Bhosale (2.10 minutes defense), Sneha Lamkane (1.30 minutes defense), and Pranali Kale (1.10 minutes defense and 4 points) supported Ashwini. Despite Odisha's defenders putting up a strong effort in the second innings, Maharashtra's Suhani Dhotre (1.20 minutes defense, 6 points) and Prajakta Birajdar (2 minutes defense) ensured victory. Sanika Chafe eliminated four players in each inning with her sharp attacks. Odisha's Archana Pradhan (2 minutes & 4 points) and Lisa Rani (1 minute & 6 points) performed well but fell short.

In the boys' final, Maharashtra defeated Odisha 33-29, maintaining a 1.30-minute lead. The halftime score of 18-14 gave Maharashtra an edge. All-round contributions from Jitendra Vasave (2.30, 1.20 minutes defense, and 4 points) and Krishna Bansode (1.40, 1.40 minutes defense, and 4 points) were crucial. Parth Devkate and Prem Dalvi, with six points each, played pivotal roles. Odisha’s Bapi Murmu (2, 1.20 minutes defense, and 2 points) and Sunil Patra (1.30, 1 minutes defense, and 6 points) fought valiantly but couldn’t prevent Maharashtra’s victory.

Coaches Yuvraj Jadhav (boys’ team) and Shrikant Gaikwad (girls’ team) attributed the success to teamwork, strategic planning, and the strong support provided by the Maharashtra Kho-Kho Association.

Awards and Recognition:

• Veer Abhimanyu Award: Jitendra Vasave (Dharashiv)
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• Janaki Award: Suhani Dhotre (Dharashiv)
• Best Attacker: Prem Dalvi (Sangli, Maharashtra), Lisa Rani (Odisha)
• Best Defender: Bapi Murmu (Odisha), Tanvi Bhosale (Dharashiv, Maharashtra)

Maharashtra Achieves Dream Points:

This year, the championship introduced "dream points." Teams earn these when a batch of three players defends for four minutes, with additional points awarded for every subsequent minute until out the whole batch. Maharashtra’s boys earned 1 dream point, while the girls earned 4. Odisha’s boys earned 1 point.

Comments from Officials:

• Chandrajit Jadhav, Secretary, Maharashtra Kho-Kho Association: Odisha has invested significantly in sports infrastructure and established high-performance centers to support athletes. Despite the lack of similar facilities in Maharashtra, the teams' innovative strategies and teamwork led to victory.
• Ajit Pawar, Patron, Maharashtra Kho-Kho Association: Maharashtra's players and coaches showcased exceptional talent and determination, making the state proud. Congratulations to all the players and supporters.