How Chaitra B conquered the Kho Kho world with defense

On Sunday night, when the clock wound down and the Indian Women punched the air after outplaying Nepal 78-40 to win the inaugural women’s Kho Kho World Cup, a tiny hamlet in Karnataka erupted in joy.

At Kuruburu village in T. Narsipur district, 140 kilometers south of Bengaluru City, every household tuned into the live broadcast through the course of the World Cup.

While they were undoubtedly rallying for India, they reserved their loudest cheer every time ‘their daughter’ Chaitra B appeared on screen.

A surreal month

“The final was a tough game, and I was happy when we won it,” said Chaitra, speaking to this writer over the telephone from New Delhi.

For the star defender of the squad, winning the World Cup was the culmination of what has been a surreal month.

And being judged the ‘Player of the final’ was the icing on the cake.

“January 8th was my birthday and two days later, they announced my name in the team,” she recalled with glee.

The selection, however, did not come out of the blue. Chaitra has displayed consistent performances as a Kho Kho player over the years.

At the 2016 sub-junior national competitions, she tasted success with the state team that won the title. Also, from 2018 to 2020, she has been a regular at the Khelo India games.

And her transition to the senior Karnataka squad has been seamless, a progression that has seen her wearing state colors at the 2022 and 2023 National Games.

Despite being a seasoned player herself and the team packed with experience, preparations for the World Cup were made on a war-footing note.

‘We wanted to win’

“We held a one-month camp in December at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. There were Indian and international coaches working with us,” said Chaitra.

Despite the bone-chilling winter in the national capital, the squad was up early every single day and left no stone unturned in their pursuit of excellence.

“We trained by 7am to 9.30am in the mornings and then from 3pm to 6pm in the evenings. Some days, we even had three sessions in a day.”

Attention was paid to all aspects, from fitness and match drills to food and nutrition. The goal from the outset, Chaitra says, was to win.

“We wanted to win the World Cup. That was the goal from the very beginning.”

All of this, however, would never have been possible had her family not stood by her like a rock.

HISTORY CRAFTED BETWEEN THE POLES.

Indian women's Kho Kho team defeats Nepal in the final of the #khokhoworldcup2025 💥💥💥.

A huge margin of 78-40 states India's dominance at home, high tunes on board as the girls march to the top podium to don the scintillating Kho Kho… pic.twitter.com/wa834TapWg

— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) January 19, 2025

‘Kho Kho has given me life’

Chaitra took to the sport in 2011 after watching her seniors play Kho Kho in school.

But it was only when the high school’s social studies and mathematics teacher spotted her capabilities, that she began taking a Kho Kho seriously.

“Manjunath master encouraged me. My brother Chetan, who also played Kho Kho, supported me,” she said.

Despite the backing of her teacher and brother, her parents felt the pressure of society, which cautioned them against permitting their young daughter from travelling the country.

Chaitra’s parents were told that ‘she will lose her way’ and villagers urged them to get her married instead.

But her father Basavanna, a sugarcane and rice farmer and Nagarathna, a homemaker, were having none of that.

And when young Chaitra told her parents that she ‘wanted to do something with her skill’ they threw their weight behind her.

According to youngster, the backing of her family was just what the she needed.

“I spoke to them before the final and said I know how hard you have worked, if not for anything, I will win it for you.”

The 22-year-old, armed with a bachelor’s degree in arts, now has a new feather in her cap - the coveted World Cup winner’s medal.

And she isn’t backing down just yet.

“Kho Kho has given me life and I will continue playing the sport.”