Here, we bring you the best of the best when it comes to defending in Kho Kho, as the second season of Ultimate Kho Kho league comes to an end. Special mentions must be given to defensive players in the Kho kho game, who require a lot of exuberance of speed, strategy, and athletic skills, and five players have demonstrated that properly in the recently concluded season.
The Kho kho game has consistently been recognized for being ever-changing, and both attack and defense cycles are here. Of these, style of play has, in the past, largely been associated with the activities of the attackers who hunt down adversaries with elegant speed.
However, in fact, Season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League proved that the team cannot do without defenders.
It was even more so this season when more and more players demonstrated their muscle and brain power: top Defenders of Ultimate Kho kho Season 2.
1. Ajay Desai
Ajay Desai was established as one of the hardest players to beat in season two. Donning the Mumbai Warriors uniform, Desai’s defensive mindset was overwhelming at times.
He had the extra advantage of a cool temper, which ensured that he did not panic even when cornered or faced with more than one opponent at one time. Which particular performance of Desai was memorable when he was able to dodge five attackers in a single turn during the national kho kho match against Chennai Challengers.
In most instances, Desai moved near the edge of the field so that the attackers had a hard time corralling him. He is also fast in decision-making processes, for which he has been nicknamed “The Wall” because he is always the wall that the attackers must penetrate to get to the other side, which is the victory side.
2. Sita Ram
Sita Ram belongs to the Bengal Tigers; other than being quite shy and reserved off the field, he becomes quite the wrestler on the field.
The best performance recorded when Ram was in action was a kho–kho live match against Delhi Dynamos, in which his defense was really outstanding. The best part of it all was that Ram defended alone for a record 2 minutes and 45 seconds.
To this effect, Ram is perhaps the stealthiest of the lot and normally comes into the game silently, only to strike at the right moment. He has the ability to prevent opponent’s attacks most of the time because of his quick reflexes and always thinks ahead of the game.
Therefore, he has been able to nervously influence a number of exciting moments in the game and to shift the team’s fate to his side.
3. Raghav Gupta
Raghav Gupta has confirmed his status as a leading defender in his unique skills of the psychic tricks of attackers. A Kho kho match of the Jaipur Jaguars depicted Gupta in action, where he was skillfully defending on the field. But he dodged three straight people and got a precious point for his team.
His amazing power to read the next action of his rivals has made him one of the leading defenders in the Ultimate Kho Kho League.
All these show that Gupta’s defensive technique is well-grounded in the rhythm of the game. He likes to occupy good squares, where he puts pressure on the attack and denies them space.
That makes him such a valuable asset to the Jaguars since he can acquire the authority of the game and slow down the offense when a defensive player can make a huge difference in crucial moments.
It is, therefore, important that one knows how to analyze the result of a match.
4. Neha Sharma
Season 2 has witnessed the brightness of Neha Sharma, the only female defender in the Hall of Fame, addressing stereotypes and creating records. But watching Sharma play for the Hyderabad Hawks, there is a lot of speed and power in his groundwork, along with a strategic mind.
In one of the most important Kho kho national matches, Sharma made an excellent defense against the Gujarat Gladiators, which became a center of scandal.
Sharma’s approach to defense is sequential and bold. In wrestling, she always analyzes her competitors’ strategies and adapts her own strategy to them. Her agility and many preset moves make her a handful to handle whenever she is attacked.
This season, Sharma’s performance helped her team and young, débuting girls who aspire to become Kho kho players.
5. Manish Kumar
Manish Kumar’s defensive aptitudes have been indeed a reason to rejoice for his side as he is knighted for his intensity and never-say-die spirit. His career’s turning point occurred during a Kho kho live match against the Bengaluru Bulls when he escaped four attackers in the final quarter to ensure his team qualified for the finals.
Endurance is a physical attribute, and strong-mindedness is part of Kumar’s strengths, which define his defense.
All these top defenders have posed the right challenge in the Kho kho game in Season 2 since their emergence. The defenders have been applauded by fans and analysts for the way they perform the defensive part of the game and made the game more and more attractive.
For these defenders who have been out of sight in the national Kho Kho arena, the Ultimate Kho Kho League has come in handy to offer exposure and enlighten the upcoming Kho Kho players.
This serves to present that as the sport continues to develop, the defender players will always be significant in determining the future of the Kho Kho game.
Thus, in conclusion, the best defenders of the Ultimate Kho Kho League Season 2 have set a new pattern of defense. This has taken their respective teams to victory and revolutionized the way defense is played in the kho kho.
These defenders will surely persist in the next season, encouraging and helping the football ground attain an even higher level.
References-
https://www.ultimatekhokho.com/news/ultimate-kho-kho-season-2-hall-of-fame-meet-the-top-defenders
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_Ultimate_Kho_Kho
https://www.mykhel.com/more-sports/ultimate-kho-kho-know-all-about-the-rules-and-points-system-key-terms-253507.html
