Ramji Kashyap, a 22-year-old from Velapur village in Maharashtra, has transitioned from stacking discarded cardboard sheets to stacking up medals and giant cheques as India’s top contemporary kho kho player. Growing up in a family of scrap dealers, Ramji’s days were spent among piles of bhangaar (scrap), but his heart was always in kho kho, a sport he fell in love with after joining his local school.
Despite his family’s initial reluctance to let him pursue kho kho, Ramji’s dedication to the sport remained unwavering. His rise in the kho kho world began in Velapur, where he practiced tirelessly on makeshift tracks. His skills were soon noticed, and he was fast-tracked to the Maharashtra team, eventually catching the eye of the Chennai Quick Guns franchise in the domestic Ultimate Kho Kho league, where he has been named the best player for the past two years.
Ramji’s success is not only a testament to his physicality and speed but also to his resilience. Despite facing hardships, such as an ankle tear that kept him out for nearly a year, Ramji’s determination never wavered. He returned to the sport with the support of his village and now plays at the international level, earning accolades at the kho kho World Cup in New Delhi, where his skills in back dodges, sky dives, and sudden stops leave crowds in awe.
Though he still helps his family with scrap collection, Ramji’s fame in the kho kho world has earned him the nickname ‘Rambo’ and a stable job with Central Railway in Mumbai. His journey from the scrap piles of Velapur to the spotlight of kho kho is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the pursuit of a dream.
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