Maharashtra Kho-Kho teams begin residential camps for national title in Vadodara

Maharashtra's junior boys' and girls' kho-kho teams have begun preparations to keep the state's dominance in the national game. The 45th Junior National Kho-Kho Championship (Kumar-Kumari) is to be held in Vadodara, Gujarat. Both teams are aiming for the gold medal, and special residential training camps have been organised for the purpose.

The girls' team is practising in Dharashiv, while the boys' team is in Sangli. The players are working hard on skill, speed, fitness and team coordination. The championship will be played in Vadodara from November 21 to 25, 2026. The camps of both teams will run from November 1 to 19 in preparation.

The girls' camp in Dharashiv began on November 1. It was inaugurated by Dharashiv Municipal Council president Nehatai Kakde. Councillors Rahul Kakde and Rajkanya Adsul, Maharashtra Kho-Kho Association general secretary Dr Chandrajit Jadhav, training department head Rajendra Sapte and Atharva Tapadia were present. Sports lovers and office-bearers including Prabhakar Kale and Vivek Kapse also attended.

Shiv Chhatrapati Award winner Rohini Aware and Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Guide Award winner Pravin Bagal spoke to the players. They said confidence, determination and sustained hard work are needed to meet the challenges of a national competition. Both also wished the Maharashtra girls' team well for the championship.

Abhijeet Patil is the head coach of the girls' team, and Samruddhi Patil will serve as assistant coach. The camp will place special emphasis on the players' physical capacity, speed, agility, defence and accuracy in attack.

In Sangli, the boys' team camp has also begun. Sangli District Sports Officer Kiran Borwadekar inaugurated it. Gurudatta Chavan, Dr Amit Rahvate, Prof. Sachin Chavan, Tukaram Mali and Amol Devkate of the Maharashtra Kho-Kho Association's coaching wing were present. They guided the players and wished them well for the national championship.

Pandharinath Badgujar will be the head coach of the boys' team. Under his supervision, emphasis will be laid on consistency in play, speed of attack, agility in defence, decision-making and team coordination. The aim of the camp is to make the players physically and mentally strong enough to take on national-level opponents.