The historic Vidyarthi Krida Kendra at Parel, Mumbai, was the epicentre of excitement as the quarter-finals of the First Professional Invitational Kho-Kho Tournament 2026 unfolded, organised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Sports Club in collaboration with the Mumbai Kho-Kho Association. Fans were treated to a day filled with high-octane action, showcasing speed, strategy, and fierce competition. After a series of gripping matches, Central Railway, Rachana Notary Works, Western Railway, and Maharashtra Post secured their spots in the semi-finals, promising even more thrilling encounters ahead.

Western Railway Triumphs Over Bank of India
In a nail-biting opener, Western Railway (WR) edged past Bank of India (BoI) with a score of 11-9 (half-time 9-4), en-route a two point narrow win with 7.20 minutes to spare. From the outset, WR displayed aggressive tactics, combining disciplined defense with timely attacks. All-rounder Nikhil Sodiye (2.30, unbeaten 2.30 min defence and 2 points) and Abhay Ratnakar (1 min defence and 5 points) played key roles in guiding their team to victory. On the other hand despite a valiant efforts by Sudarshan Chavan (1.10 min defence and 3 points) and Arpit Tiwari (1.30, 1 min defence and 2 points), BoI fell short of turning the tide.

Central Railway Dominates MahaVitaran
Central Railway (CR) showcased their prowess in the second quarter-final, overpowering MahaVitaran Company 19-12 after leading throughout (half-time 10-6). With a commanding performance, CR never allowed their opponents to gain momentum. Standout contributions came from their all-rounders Arnav Patankar (1.40 min defence and 4 points) and Milind Chavarekar (1 min defence and 4 points), ensuring a comfortable win even as Soham Lokawale (1 min defence and 3 points), and Aniket Chendavankar (1, 1.40 min defence and 2 points) put up a spirited efforts for Maha Vitaran.

Rachana Notary Works Edges Out Mumbai Police in Thriller
The third quarter-final was a heart-stopper, with Rachana Notary Works narrowly defeating Mumbai Police 21-18 (half-time 12-10). Both teams displayed tenacity, but Rachana held their nerve in the final moments. Prathamesh Durgawale (1.20 min defence and 3 points), Hitesh Agre (1.20 min defence and 4 points) and Sadashiv Palav (1.10 min defence and 4 points) were pivotal in securing the victory, while Mumbai Police’s Akshay Khapre (1 min defence and 3 points) and Harish More (1.20 min defence and 5 points) fought valiantly but couldn’t clinch the win.

Maharashtra Post Squeezes Past Naval Dock
The final quarter-final was a tense affair, with Maharashtra Post sneaking past Naval Dock 16-15 (half-time 11-7). The match was fiercely contested until the last whistle, with raider Pradyumna Patil (4 points) and all-rounder Sunny Tambe (2.20 min defence and 3 points) playing crucial roles in Maharashtra Post’s triumph. Despite a spirited fine all-round effort from Naval Dock’s Sai Pisal (1 min defence and 4 points) and Anant Satale (1 min defence and 3 points), Shubham Dogale, they failed to sail into the last four stage.

Fans eagerly await the semi-final clashes, where the stakes will be even higher in this thrilling Kho-Kho tournament.