Biomechanical Analysis of the Sprint-Chase (Pursuit Running) Skill in Kho-Kho

Abstract: Kho-Kho is a traditional Indian tag-based team sport in which a chaser's ability to pursue and tap an opposing runner decides the outcome of a turn. The central skill of this pursuit -- repeated short-burst sprinting, rapid acceleration from a crouched “kho”-receiving posture, and sustained high-velocity chase across the playing lane -- has rarely been examined from a mechanical standpoint despite its decisive tactical role. This paper analyses the sprint-chase skill of kho-kho through the lens of linear kinetics and kinematics, treating the chaser's body as a system governed by Newton's laws of motion, the impulse-momentum relationship, and stride mechanics. Using a combined framework of high-speed two-dimensional video analysis and force-platform-derived ground reaction force (GRF) data, the study models the phases of the chase -- reaction and start, acceleration, and near-maximal pursuit -- and identifies the propulsive and braking force components that govern stride length, stride frequency, and horizontal acceleration of the centre of mass. Fifteen state-level male kho-kho chasers (18-24 years) were filmed executing the sprint-chase skill under match- simulated conditions, and stride kinematics were digitised frame by frame and compared between successful and unsuccessful pursuit trials. Results indicate that effective chasers generate a significantly greater horizontal propulsive impulse during the first three strides after the kho is received, shorter ground contact time during acceleration, and a forward trunk lean of approximately 45° at push-off that optimises the horizontal component of GRF. Stride frequency, more than stride length, was the stronger correlate of a completed tap. These findings position the sprint-chase as a mechanically distinct skill shaped by the game's repeated stop-start structure, offering a biomechanical basis for chaser- specific conditioning that favours acceleration mechanics over open top-end speed.