Kho Kho Gains Recognition In New South Wales Parliament As Sport Expands Globally

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In May, Charishma Kaliyanda, a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Liverpool in New South Wales, Australia, highlighted the opening of a Kho Kho court at Marsden Road Public School.

This was the first such facility in Australia. Kaliyanda celebrated this development in the NSW Parliament, noting its potential to grow at the grassroots level. Thus, Kho Kho, deeply rooted in India, is making its mark globally.

Raj Sura's journey with Kho Kho began on school playgrounds in Punjab. The sport was played on dusty fields with chalk lines and quick sprints. Raj's connection to the game has now extended to Australia, where he leads a team of new players discovering the sport on synthetic turf.

Raj started his formal journey with a local club in Punjab, known for its rich sporting culture. His talent led him to represent his district and state, eventually captaining his college team to multiple victories. He was named Best Player at the Engineer Nationals, a cherished memory.

However, academic pressures forced Raj to pause his sports career. "Tournament dates often clashed with exams. Eventually, I had to stop playing," he recalls. After college, Raj pursued engineering and moved to Australia in the late 1990s, leaving Kho Kho behind temporarily.

In 2024, Raj was selected to play for Australia in the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup held in India. "It was surreal playing again in the country where I first learned the game, but now representing my new home," he said.

Alongside playing, Raj coached beginners who had never heard of the sport before. Under his guidance, one player was shortlisted for a professional league within five months. "That moment made me believe this game can grow anywhere," Raj says.

Laying New Foundations

Now President of Kho Kho Australia, Raj is building the sport from scratch. A significant milestone came in May 2025 with Australia's first dedicated Kho Kho ground opening at Marsden Road Public School in Sydney. The facility features a removable pole system for shared use with other sports and is being explored in Melbourne and Canberra.

"Playing on this new ground has been incredible," said Australian player Mudra Bhatt. Teammate Michael Limanuel added, "It's amazing to see Kho Kho gain recognition here; it'll inspire more young players."

Learning Leadership and Coaching

Despite decades of playing experience, Raj knew coaching required a different approach. He returned to India for Advanced Level III A training and completed an international certification program by KKFI and IKKF. "Playing is one thing, but coaching is a whole different ballgame," he says. Connecting with coaches from Malaysia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka renewed his purpose to build a global future for Kho Kho.

A Legacy in Motion

Now retired from engineering, Raj focuses full-time on expanding the sport through scouting systems, certified training programs, school integration initiatives and national competitions. What began on chalky schoolyards is now being reimagined globally as Kho Kho creates a new legacy one sprint at a time.