In Manana village, kho-kho becomes a ladder of success for young players

Struggling against all odds, nearly 20 kho-kho players from Manana village in Samalkha have secured government jobs solely on the basis of their sporting achievements. Out of the 20 players, 14 of them were selected in 2023 alone. The village has earned a distinct identity at the national level, with its players earning medals, trophies and cups. A village girl has even represented India in an international tournament.

Every day, around 150 boys and girls practice kho-kho in the Manana ground during the morning and evening sessions. Players from neighbouring villages also come here to train.

Mukesh, a village resident who represented India at the South Asian Kho-Kho Tournament in 2016, began playing the sport in Class VI. After completing her BPEd, she started a kho-kho nursery for girls in the village, helping train and mentor young talent.

Ravinder Saini, a national-level player and resident of Manana, has been training village girls for the past 15 years. Coming from a poor family, he had to quit the sport and work in a private factory. His journey changed in 2010 when Sarita Devi, Principal of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, asked Saini and a retired head teacher Ram Swaroop Rathi, to train schoolgirls in kho-kho. With their support, a ground was prepared in front of the school and Saini, who is also the General Secretary of Panipat Kho-Kho Association, began coaching the girls in technical and physical skills. Ram Swaroop Rathi passed away in May 2023.

“I spend most of my time at the playground training the girls and their medals have encouraged us to keep going,” said Saini.

Now, players including, Anju, Meena, Kirti, Savita, Kajal, Annu, Sangeeta, Preeti, Rahul, Vishal, Deepak and Veeru, have now secured government jobs in various departments because of their achievements. Several others have also participated in the Khelo India tournaments.

Most of these students come from financially weak families, but their success in sports has transformed their lives. At present, about 150 children, aged between 7 and 20, practice daily on three active kho-kho courts. Saini said senior players have moved on to jobs, so efforts are now focused on developing a new senior batch.

Recently, the Manana team won a gold medal in the state-level under-19 school games, with 10 of the 12 team members trained at the local ground. In the senior national kho-kho tournament held in Chandigarh, the state team won a silver medal, with four players from Manana.

Principal Sarita Devi said when she joined the school in 2010, there were no sports opportunities for girls. Most students came from poor families and lacked facilities. She decided to use sports to strengthen them physically and mentally. With the support of Rathi and Saini, the kho-kho ground was developed and the sport soon flourished in the village.

Today, Manana hosts two kho-kho nurseries — one each for boys and girls — approved by the Sports Department. Children from Manana and nearby villages now train here and the village has become a recognised hub for kho-kho.