Mumbai: Backed with a successful, exciting and entertaining inaugural season that reached 164 million households, Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) is all geared up for its grand second edition, scheduled to kickstart on 24 December 2023, and final on 13 January 2024 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha.
Inspired by Hon’ble Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s vision of ‘sports for youth, youth for future’, the Odisha government has not only hosted some of the major global sports events in the state, but it has also developed world-class multi-sport infrastructure and sporting experiences for sports enthusiasts from the state.
“We are extremely excited to host the 2nd edition of the Ultimate Kho Kho in Odisha. This is an exciting opportunity for all of us. Kho-Kho is a sport that is not only played but widely followed as well in Odisha and hosting the second edition here will be a great opportunity for the people of the state to not only experience the spectacle live but also get inspired and pursue the game. We are fully committed to making the season a grand success,” commented minister of state, electronics & IT, sports & youth services, government of Odisha Tusharkanti Behera.
UKK, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, is dedicated to reinventing and promoting the indigenous sport in a more dynamic and engaging manner.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Odisha Government and the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik for their support for the Season 2. The resounding success of the inaugural edition has attracted significant interest from brands and helped us secure new partners. Our focus remains on selecting partners who share our long-term vision. Season 2 aims to build new-age superstars of the future especially with the presence of younger talent on the field. Anticipate more intensified rivalries, thrilling action, more speed and innovations that will redefine the sports viewing experience, making it more immersive TV viewing experience,” commented Ultimate Kho Kho CEO and league commissioner Tenzing Niyogi.
FinNest (A BNP Group Company), a private equity investment firm has recently invested in the Ultimate Kho Kho to multiply the indigenous growth story. BNP Group founder and chairman Dr. Biswanath Patnaik said: “BNP Group is thrilled to be part of this movement, reshaping homegrown sports into a contemporary spectacle and empowering indigenous aspiring youth to shine. Our mission is to take this movement forward, showcasing India’s best-kept sports to the world, promoting Indigenous sport and nurturing talent for the global stage. The Ultimate Kho Kho is part of our growing sports Investment profile, and we look forward to universal synergies.”
UKK has revolutionised ‘desh ke mitti ka khel’ (the game of the country’s soil) and the inaugural edition of this indigenous sport’s league became a huge success, emerging as India’s third-largest non-cricket league in terms of TV audience reach.
The success of the first season is evident in its impressive audience reach of 164 million. The league garnered a total viewership of 41 million in India and 64 million globally across TV and OTT platforms during the 34 matches held over three weeks. Additionally, Season 1 also recorded 60 million interactions and 225 million video views across platforms, surpassing any other non-cricket league. A standout feature of UKK Season 1 was the introduction of the spider cam, marking it the first indoor league in India to deploy this advanced technology in capturing one of the fastest sports.
The Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 will feature India’s top 145 players, including 33 young talents aged between 16 to 18. Defending champions Odisha Juggernauts (owned by the Government of Odisha), Chennai Quick Guns (owned by KLO Sports), Gujarat Giants (owned by Adani Sportsline), Mumbai Khiladis (owned by Janhavi Dhariwal Balan, Punit Balan, and Badshah), Rajasthan Warriors (owned by Capri Global Group), and Telugu Yoddhas (owned by GMR Sports) will be the six franchises to fight for the coveted crown in the upcoming season. The exciting action from Season 2 will be broadcast live, and the fixtures will be announced soon.
