By Yesh Patel

The inaugural Kho Kho World Cup, held from January 13 to 19 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India, witnessed a historic performance by the Kenyan national team. Among the 20 participating nations, Kenya secured an impressive fifth place finish, marking a significant milestone in the country's Kho Kho journey. Kho Kho is a game similar to tag originating in South Asia in which two teams compete to tag each member of the opposing team in the shortest period of time. One of the players in the Kenyan National team was Yesh Dineshbhai Patel, a 4.3 Pharmacy student at USIU-Africa and the Vice Chair of the Pharmacy Club and the Logistics & Sports Coordinator for the Indian Community.

Placed in Group D alongside England, Australia, Germany, and Malaysia, Kenya showcased exceptional skill and determination. On January 14, Kenya faced Malaysia and secured a 57-28 victory, on January 15, they took on Australia and won by a slim margin of 58-54, on January 16, the faced Germany and dominated the match securing a 72-22 win and their final game was with England and they lost 23-64. These results secured Kenya the second position in Group D, advancing them to the quarterfinals. On January 17, Kenya faced Iran in the quarterfinals. Despite a valiant effort, the team was overpowered, concluding the match with a score of 18-86 in favor of Iran.

Kenya's performance in this inaugural tournament has not only elevated the nation's status in the international Kho Kho community but also inspired a new generation of athletes. The experience gained and the exposure to high-level competition are invaluable assets as the team prepares for future tournaments.