Gujarat’s Opina Bhilar helped power India to its maiden Kho Kho World Cup victory at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi on Sunday.
The 23-year-old defender held her ground for an impressive 45 minutes and contributed two vital points as India dominated Nepal with an emphatic score of 78-40 to claim the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Her father, Devjibhai Bhilar, a farmer from Biliamba village of Dang district, could barely contain his joy. Speaking to TOI, he said, “Aaje amne bahuj aanand thayo (We are very happy today). Till now, her achievements were limited to the national level. Today, she has brought laurels at an international level for India. A huge rally to the beat of drums is being planned to welcome her.”
Speaking after the landmark victory, Opina shared her happiness, “Winning the World Cup was my personal dream. Previously, we only played at the state and national levels. This international platform has given me invaluable experience.”
‘Suffered ACL injury, path not smooth’
For Devjibhai Bhilar, who owns approximately five to six bighas of land on which he cultivates rice and nagli (finger millet), the World Cup win epitomises a 15-year struggle that began with Opina’s desire to play the sport.
Recalling his daughter’s journey, Devjibhai proudly stated, “Fifteen years ago, when children of Biliamba primary school said they were interested in kho kho, there was no proper playground. Today, the same school has given 85 kho kho players to the Gujarat team.”
Her talent earned her admission to the District Level Sports School (DLSS) in Tapi after Class 8. Coach Sunil Mistry recalls her exceptional dedication: “She joined as a Proven Talent player in 2014. She went on to represent Gujarat in four senior nationals and captained the state in two National Games.”
“In 2023 in Delhi, when Gujarat finished seventh at the senior nationals, her performance helped her get a ticket to the national camp,” he adds.
Shift to Athletics Proves Wrong
Hailing her for her commendable willpower, Mistry further states, “Her path has not been smooth. As she was a good sprinter too, it was recommended she join an athletics academy in Vadodara in 2018. The academy shut down in 2019.”
The brief switch to athletics led to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in 2019, requiring surgery and rehabilitation during the Covid lockdown. “She started playing again in 2021 and has not looked back since,” Mistry said.
Asked about the experience of competing against excellent players, she said, “While other countries are still trying to make a mark in this sport, India has a long-standing tradition of playing kho kho and its women players are among the best in the world. However, when playing with other countries, they still need some improvement in their skills and technique.”
“I have learned a lot from playing alongside experienced players like Priyanka and Nasreen. They taught me about techniques and timing in the game. I am very happy to be winning not just the World Cup but also for the valuable experience and skill improvement,” she further added.