The first-ever franchise-based kho kho league is promoted by Amit Burman, chairman,
, in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI).
A total of 240 registered players from 28 states and union territories were part of the draft process.
They were divided into four categories, as per their performances in international matches, the recent National Championships and evaluation conducted by the league.
The 77-top players from Category A were offered Rs 5 lakh each.
“It was a well-rounded draft which comprises players across the country. We are really happy and proud to see this first step in the progression of creating UKK as a mega league in the Indian sporting ecosystem,” said Tenzing Niyogi, CEO, UKK.
The franchises will now get to work with the players’ camp and the coaching camp till August 1.
It was Maharashtra’s Mahesh Shinde, who became the first player to be picked in the historic players’ draft. The 27-year-old defender was drafted by KLO Sports-owned Chennai Quick Guns.
Incidentally, South Asian Games’ gold medallist Pratik Waikar (Telugu Yoddhas), Andhra Pradesh’s Pothireddy Sivareddy (Gujarat Giants), Tamil Nadu’s M Vignesh (Chennai Quick Guns) and Karnataka’s Gowtham MK (Odisha Juggernauts) were among the 20 players who were handpicked by the franchises.
“We have a balanced squad of experienced and as well as youthful players, so we are happy with it. Hopefully, during training, we will analyse their abilities and based on that we will form a team,” said Srinath Chittoori, co-owner of Chennai Quick Guns.
“Some players which were in our plan A were already picked by other teams but obviously because we had multiple plans, we knew the right strategy,” said Punit Balan, co-owner of the Mumbai team. “I think a good squad of 24 people for Mumbai Khiladis is ready. I feel it is a very balanced team. The approach is very clear, Mumbai Khiladis and their punchline is Khel Khila Denge, so we know we’ll tell our Khiladis to play their best and go and top the ladder.”
A viewer-friendly revamped format is expected to bring about a transformation in how this indigenous sport is perceived in the country.
“Being the first season, we have relied on the coaches input and who have gone ahead and suggested names,” said Colonel Vinod Bisht, CEO, GMR League Games, which owns Telugu Yoddhas. “So we have taken a lot of players from the senior category which is A and B, then have blended them with a lot of youngsters in C and D. So, we hope that with the experience and the youth which gives the bigger speed we will be able to do well in the first season.”
A total of 34 matches will be played over the period of 21 days in the first season of the league. The knockout matches will be played in an exciting playoff format which will consist of a qualifier and eliminator matches.
“We had a very satisfying draft. We are quite sure that we will be able to come up with a very successful team and very mature team in the season to come,” added Ajit Sharan, Director,
, owner of Rajasthan Warriors.
“Ultimate Kho kho is a very good opportunity for our Odisha Kho-Kho team. We have been doing very well in junior levels and as the Odisha government owns a franchise now, it’s an opportunity for us to contribute towards the growth of this game,” said Lilan Prasad Sahu, OSD, Dept of Sports and Youth Affairs, Govt of Odisha.
“We are excited to contribute to this game-changing experience through our franchise at UKK League,” said Satyam Trivedi of Adani Sportsline, which owns Gujarat Giants. “UKK will bring forth our indigenous sport in a new avatar, and we look forward to being a part of yet another journey of mud to mat. The right team selection is integral to the success of a franchise and a lot depends upon the sequence of the draft. But thanks to our coaches to have aptly strategised and selected the desired talent from a pool of 240 players.”
Sony Sports Network is the official broadcaster of the first season, and the matches will be aired live in Hindi (Sony TEN 3), English (Sony TEN 1), Tamil and Telugu (Sony TEN 4). SonyLIV, the OTT service will stream the matches live.
