Pakistan set to miss inaugural Kho Kho World Cup

Delhi: The inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025 has received a setback of sorts with India's arch-rivals Pakistan unable to travel due to visa issues.

The opening match was supposed to be played between India and Pakistan on the 13th of January at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, in New Delhi.

However, due to the neighboring nation not receiving visas on time, their participation in the World Cup will not be possible.

Technical reasons

"There are a couple of technical reasons behind the absence of Pakistan. I am not sure if they applied on time for the visas but it is the only reason that looks possible at the moment," one of the officials close to the development told The Bridge on conditions of anonymity.

The official also confirmed that the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) tried for the formalities to be completed but it didn't come through.

The absence of the Pakistan Kho Kho team from the World Cup is just another addition to the strained sporting relations between both countries with the Indian cricket team refusing to play in the upcoming Champions Trophy.

In the absence of Pakistan, hosts India will face another neighbor Nepal in the opening game of the tournament.

The national capital Delhi is set to witness the historic 1st Kho Kho World Cup as 39 teams from across the globe compete for glory marking a major milestone in promoting Kho Kho as an international sport.

The Opening Ceremony of the Kho Kho World Cup 2025 will take place on January 13, 2025, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, followed by the opening match between India and Nepal.

Star Sports will broadcast the matches on Star Sports 1 HD and Star Sports First, while Doordarshan will ensure nationwide regional coverage.

Disney+ Hotstar joins as the OTT broadcast partner, enabling digital streaming access.

Men’s Category: Group breakdown and key matches

The Men’s competition features 20 teams divided into four groups:

Group A: India, Nepal, Peru, Brazil, Bhutan

Group B: South Africa, Ghana, Argentina, Netherlands, Iran

Group C: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Korea, USA, Poland

Group D: England, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, Kenya

The Men’s matches kick off with India facing Nepal in the mega tournament opener at 8:30 pm IST. The league stage will culminate on January 16, followed by the playoffs beginning on January 17.

The Men’s final will take place on January 19 at 8:15 pm IST, promising a thrilling conclusion to the championship.

Women’s Category: Group breakdown and key matches

The Women’s competition mirrors the Men’s format, with 19 teams divided into four groups:

Group A: India, Iran, Malaysia, South Korea

Group B: England, Australia, Kenya, Uganda, Netherlands

Group C: Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Germany, Bangladesh

Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Poland, Peru, Indonesia

The Women’s opening match sees England taking on Australia on January 14 at 11:45 am IST.

For the Indian team, their first match of the tournament is against South Korea on January 14 at 7:00 pm IST.

The group stage concludes on January 16, paving the way for the playoffs on January 17. The Women’s final match is scheduled for January 19 at 7:00 pm IST, setting the stage for a spectacular finish to the week-long extravaganza.