The omission of any player from Assam has sparked disappointment, especially given the state's history of producing skilled athletes in the sport
GUWAHATI: The first-ever World Cup Kho-Kho tournament is set to take place in New Delhi from January 13 to January 19, 2025, with participation from 24 nations. However, Assam, despite having promising players, failed to secure any representation in the final Indian squads for both men's and women's teams, a decision that has raised eyebrows among the state's Kho-Kho community.
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Assam's Rahul Das and Ranjana Sarania, who were part of the month-long training and selection camp for the national teams, did not make the final cut announced on Thursday, January 9. The omission of any player from Assam has sparked disappointment, especially given the state's history of producing skilled athletes in the sport.
While players from Assam may not feature on the field, the state still has representation in the administrative and coaching arenas. The World Cup's organising committee includes prominent figures from Assam, such as President Rajiv Prakash Baruah, Working President Rajesh Boro, Vice President Aftab Hussain, and General Secretary Govind Chandra Kalita.
On the coaching front, Assam's Rupa Das Thakuria and Utupar Sanjeev Raj Upadhyay have been invited as coaches for the tournament. Furthermore, the Indian men's team boasts an assistant coach, Nitul Das, a former player of the Assam Kho-Kho Association who now serves as a Sports Authority of India (SAI) Kho-Kho coach.
The World Cup Kho-Kho is expected to be a landmark event, promoting this indigenous Indian sport on the global stage. However, Assam's absence in the playing squad underscores the challenges faced by players from smaller states in breaking into national teams.
