The defending champions, the Indian Kho Kho squad, were keen to retain their championship. The Indian squad appeared upbeat and energetic in their first encounter against Sri Lanka in Kathmandu, Nepal. All of the players appeared to have good synchronization and comprehension. India won the match by a margin of 8-3. India was scheduled to play three matches in Nepal but due to security concerns they could only play two games. The first match was played on November 1 at Tribhuvan University Stadium, Kathmandu. India won this match by a margin of 7-1. The second match was played on November 3 at Royal Nepal Academy Ground, Sanepa. Again, India won this match by a margin of 9-0. This made India undefeated in Nepal. The final match of the series was held on November 5 at Bir Hospital Grounds, Chitwan. Although India lost this match, it didn't affect their standing as champions as they had already secured themselves a spot in the finals by winning both their matches. Overall, India won all their matches convincingly and retained the title for the third time. This makes them the most successful team in the history of Kho Kho. In 2013, India again defended its title but this time it was against Pakistan in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. Like previous years, India won the match by a wide margin of 12-1.