Big Shout For Kho Kho

WITH SUBSTANTIAL INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION AT THE ONGOING KHO KHO WORLD CUP IN DELHI, THE GAME IS POISED TO GO GLOBAL

- Suhani Singh

A decade back, when Nasreen Shaikh used to leave early in the morning for Kho Kho training, the community in her neighbourhood in Shakurpur, New Delhi, used to taunt the family. "Where is she going? Her parents don't care about her. How can she wear shorts?" Shaikh didn't take it to heart.

"Girls anyway have to fight doubly hard to get their way. I wanted to show what a woman can do if she has support," says the 26-year-old. That came from her father, Mohammed Ghafoor, who used to save money to meet her dietary requirements. His efforts paid off, for Shaikh's exploits on both the mitti (mud) and mat are such that he is now better known as the father of Nasreen, the player who captained India through two Asian Championship titles and became only the Second Kho Kho player to win the Arjuna award. These days, the family is excited to see her in action at the maiden Kho Kho World Cup which is being held in the capital from Jan. 13-19.