Kho Kho exponent Usha reminisces playing days through Chaitra

Bengaluru: Whenever B Chaitra (in pic) appeared on television during the Kho Kho World Cup over the past fortnight, Usha Dhar felt pride as she watched the young athlete from her home in Bengaluru.

The 22-year-old Chaitra’s impressive playing skills transported 74-year-old Usha, a former Kho Kho player from Karnataka, back to her days on the court. “Isn’t she great,” exclaimed Usha, speaking of Chaitra, who was named the tournament’s best player after her stellar contributions to the Indian women’s team’s victorious campaign.

“Also, this spunky little girl is from T Narsipur (Mysuru district), which is close to my hometown, Chamarajanagar. I think the girls from that area have a knack for Kho Kho as we are naturally agile, fast, and fearless—qualities the sport demands,” she emphasized. The septuagenarian, who was invited by the organizers to send her best wishes to the Kho Kho World Cup 2025, spoke with a palpable sense of nostalgia and pride.

Usha’s journey in the sport began during her school years at the Mahila Seva Samaj in Basavanagudi. In 1964, she became the first recipient of the Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai Award conferred by Karnataka (then Mysore state). This recognition followed her outstanding performance as a 14-year-old, leading debutant Mysore to victory against defending champions Vidarbha in the opening round of the National Kho Kho Championship in Indore.

Her standout moment came during that match when she stayed “not out” for 6 minutes and 45 seconds of the allotted seven minutes—a feat that earned her the tournament’s best player award.

Reflecting on the sport’s evolution, Usha remarked, “The game has seen a big change. The court was much bigger with a total of nine players (eight squatting and one chasing). But now, there are seven players on a smaller court.”

For Usha, the growing recognition of Kho Kho and its transition to a global stage have been deeply rewarding.

“I used to beg parents to support their daughters to play back then. Now, there’s all kinds of support. Parents and society are more accepting of women taking up sports professionally too. Playing Kho Kho changed my life. I’m sure it has Chaitra’s too. Hopefully, the sport keeps growing,” said Usha, who previously worked as an executive assistant to the vice-chancellor for research at the University of Illinois, USA.

B Chaitra 

Usha Dhar was one of the pioneers of women