Odisha Juggernauts, the State-Govt-owned Kho Kho franchise, named Milind Dilip Chavarekar and Dipesh Vijay More as the captains of their team for the Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKKL), which is all set to start at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, Maharashtra on August 14.

The co-captains were named by Head Coach Ashwani Kumar Sharma and Manager Lilan Prasad Sahu. More will lead the team in the home matches and Chavarekar will take the command in the away ones.

While naming the co-captains, Head Coach Sharma said, “Dipesh and Milind are the two senior-most players of the team, and I am sure they will do their best to ensure Odisha Juggernauts lift the first-ever Ultimate Kho Kho League trophy.”

More, 27, expressed his happiness as the franchise chose him as one of the captains for the league. “I am thankful to the management and my coaches who have shown faith in me to take charge of the team. We have an excellent team, which is a mix of youth and experience. We will take one match at a time and put in all our efforts to leap to the next stage,” said Dipesh.

Chavarekar belongs to Sangli, Maharashtra and has won gold medal for India in the 2016 South Asian Games held at Guwahati. He has played nine senior nationals till date and continues to play for his employers Central Railways.

Talking about the captaincy announcement, Chavarekar said, “The responsibility and onus is on us to take the team forward. We will definitely repay the trust and faith the management has shown on us.”
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PHOTO: Odisha Jaggernauts co-captains Milind Dilip Chavarekar (Left) and Dipesh Vijay More.