India’s first professional kho kho league — Ultimate Kho Kho League — is set to begin later this year.

Teams will comprise under-18 men from all states across India registered under the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI). Player drafts are scheduled for the middle of this year and franchise owners will be offered a bank of over 150 Indian players, based on their performance and scores in Nationals and the recently concluded high performance training camp in February.

The traditional Indian sport enjoys massive popularity across the country owing to its easy rules and high-speed format.

Amit Burman, Dabur group chairman and the league’s promoter, who has acquired long-term commercial rights from KKFI, is committed to working together to revolutionise the future of the sport. Sony will broadcast the league