Thinley Namgay
While the game of Kho Kho is relatively new to Bhutan, Kho Kho Club’s President, Jigme Dorji, believes that Bhutanese have the potential to excel in this sport.
Kho Kho was introduced to Bhutan in 2019 through a partnership between the Bhutan Kho Kho Club, the Bhutan Olympic Committee, and the Kho Kho Federation of India.
The initiative aimed to foster teamwork, discipline, and sporting excellence among Bhutanese participants. Today, the club boasts five officials and 30 registered players.
Kho Kho is a traditional South Asian sport that originated in India. It is played on a rectangular court with a central lane connecting two poles at either end. Each team consists of 12 players, with only nine players from each side participating in a match.
During the game, nine players from the chasing team (attacking team) are on the field, with eight of them sitting (crouched) in the central lane, while three runners from the defending team attempt to evade being touched. Each sitting player on the chasing team faces the opposite half of the field from their adjacent teammates.
During the game, a player from the chasing team (the active chaser or attacker) may run around the court to tag (touch) members of the defending team. Each successful tag earns one point, and tagged defenders must leave the field.
The game is played in four quarters of nine minutes each.
President Jigme Dorji said that Bhutan’s participation in the maiden Kho Kho World Cup 2025 in India was historic and reflects the country’s growing commitment to expanding its sporting horizons, embracing new disciplines, and strengthening team spirit and discipline among its athletes. “Bhutan’s participation has elevated its presence in the international Kho Kho arena.”
Bhutan brought home 12 medals from the Kho Kho World Cup.
“This achievement demonstrates the athletic prowess, dedication, skills, and determination of Bhutanese players and serves as a stepping stone for future international competitions,” said Jigme Dorji.
Some of the important upcoming international Kho Kho tournaments include the Fifth Asian Championship in Malaysia, the SAF Championship in Pakistan, the World Championship in Iran, and the Second Kho Kho World Cup in the United Kingdom.
“Every player, coach, and supporter who attended the Kho Kho World Cup left a positive impression on others. Our athletes’ discipline, respectful interactions with other teams, and overall professionalism were widely acknowledged by spectators and participants alike,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Bhutan’s potential to achieve great things in sports. “With continued dedication and investment in our national Kho Kho teams, we are confident that we can reach even greater heights in the future.”
Participants at the Kho Kho World Cup described the game as fun and physically demanding, requiring intelligence, fitness, and agility to compete successfully.
In 2023, Bhutan also participated in the Fourth Asian Kho Kho Championship held in Tamulpur, Assam, India. The Bhutanese contingent comprised 24 players—12 men and 12 women—along with eight officials. At that time, all the athletes were students from Class IX to XI. However, Bhutan could not secure any medals during the tournament.
Challenges
Despite the progress, Kho Kho faces several challenges in Bhutan. One significant hurdle is that a large portion of the population is still unfamiliar with the sport, making it difficult to attract new players and further develop the game.
In adition, the Bhutan Kho Kho Club faces limited support from organisations and individuals, as the sport is still a new concept in the country.
The club, currently managed by a small five-member team, lacks the necessary funds to promote the game, organise events, or conduct outreach programmes for youth who could potentially benefit from the sport.
“As the club continues to grow, we will face challenges related to the sustainability of the sport,” Jigme Dorji said. “Kho Kho requires consistent funding, resources, and volunteer support to keep the sport accessible to all.”
Another key challenge is the training and development of coaches and players. “With increased demand, we will need to ensure there are enough qualified coaches and mentors to guide new players,” he said. “This will require investment in coach education programmes and player development initiatives.”
Jigme Dorji also pointed out future challenges related to infrastructure development and the cultural adoption of Kho Kho in Bhutan, where sports like archery and football are more popular.
“Attracting and retaining youth participation and gaining national and international exposure for Kho Kho will also be challenging,” he said.
Way forward
To make Kho Kho more popular in Bhutan, the club is focused on increasing awareness and providing more opportunities for people to experience the game firsthand.
“We are committed to overcoming these challenges and ensuring Kho Kho’s growth in Bhutan,” said Jigme Dorji. “We hope that more national players will join the club, and we are optimistic about the future of Kho Kho in Bhutan.”