Delhi, January 17 (HS): The journey of Dr. Hiren Pathak, who is representing Kenya in the inaugural Kho-Kho World Cup being held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, is inspiring and interesting. This journey, which started from Rajkot, took him to Kenya and has now reached the capital Delhi for the World Cup.

Dr. Hiren, who is a doctor as well as a sports lover, said about his journey, We have grown up playing Indian sports and Kho-Kho is one of them. Dr. Hiren moved to Kenya with his family about two decades ago when his father got employment there.

Describing the role of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) as important in the promotion of Indian sports in Kenya, he said, I got associated with Kho-Kho 20 years ago. HSS provided practice areas and support for Indian sports. We also play Kabaddi and other traditional sports. Although there were no formal tournaments in the beginning, we kept Kho-Kho alive.”

Kho-Kho in Kenya formally got a structured structure in 2020. The county system there made it easier to identify promising players and team selection. Dr. Hiren explains, “Players were identified from the counties and teams were formed. Small clubs are emerging, which will promote the sport.”

Dr. Hiren expressed his happiness on being a part of the inaugural World Cup. He praised the efforts of the Indian Kho-Kho Federation (KKFI) and the International Kho-Kho Federation (IKKF) and said, “This is the first Kho-Kho World Cup, and we are proud to be a part of it. This experience is amazing.”

This World Cup has become a unique occasion to celebrate dedication to the sport, where players from different countries are showcasing their skills.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar