Two good at kho-kho World Cup: Pune’s Waikar leads men’s kho kho team to glory, his kin coach of winning women’s squad

Reminiscing about the tournament, Pratik said the competition was tough. He particularly spoke of the matches involving Nepal, Iran and South Africa, which witnessed some high-level play. He commended the European countries and even Africa for showing much interest in kho-kho and said that qualifying for the World Cup now is itself a big deal.

Known as ‘Captain Cool’, Pratik said he shouldered the responsibility of keeping his team together. “During practice sessions, I would identify both talent and flaws in the players. I would talk to them, motivate them and ensure that we performed in cohesion,” he said, adding that the team would continue practising for the National Games coming up soon and the next World Cup tournament.

Pratik is grateful to the MSEDCL, especially chief engineer (Pune division) Rajendra Pawar and others, for their solid backing and for granting him a little leeway at work to attend practice sessions.

When contacted, Prachi Waikar, sports head at a prominent international school in Pune, said winning both editions of the World Cup was a big moment for the country. “We are overjoyed that our hard work has paid off. We have been stationed in New Delhi since mid-December, rigorously practising for the tournament,” she said.

Prachi and her husband Sanat, also a kho-kho player, have set up Krida Niketan, a club at Sinhagad road, which offers a platform for children from the nearby slums to play the sport.

The Waikars live as a joint family in a single building at Sadashiv Peth. The passion for kho-kho seems to run in the family. Both Pratik and his older brother Kunal landed jobs with the MSEDCL and Indian Railways respectively thanks to their proficiency in the sport, says their father, Kiran. “This is such a proud moment for the nation and our family,” Kiran said.

Several members of the Waikar family are in New Delhi for the tournament which ended on Sunday and the awards ceremony to follow.
Pratik took to kho-kho and basketball at an early age. Seeing his agility in the game, he was admitted to the renowned Navmaharashtra Club when he was just 8. He first captained the Maharashtra kho-kho team in the under-14 age group and has never looked back since. However, he gave equal weightage to his studies too, going on to graduate in computer science and later picking up an MBA in finance.

Speaking about Pratik’s passion for the sport, his wife Kshitija recalled how he would not be available for several family functions. “And the few occasions he would be present, he would stay for an hour or so before heading out for his practice sessions,” she said.

Kshitija says it was undiluted pleasure watching Pratik lift the World Cup, even as their three-year-old son Rushank kept shouting “India, India” even if he could not fully grasp the importance of the event.