Somatotype Characteristics of Elite Male and Female Kho-Kho Players: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Kinanthropometry provides an evidence-based approach to quantify physique, body composition, and performance-related traits in athletes. Kho-Kho, a traditional Indian team sport, demands agility, speed, and endurance. Evaluating gender-specific somatotype characteristics through comprehensive anthropometric assessment can enhance athlete profiling and training design. Methods: Fifty national-level elite Kho-Kho players (25 males, 25 females) from Karnataka were assessed using standardized Kinanthropometric protocols. Measurements included body mass, height, sitting height, and arm span. Skinfold thickness at eight sites (triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supra-spinal, abdominal, thigh, calf) was obtained using skin fold caliper; girths (arm relaxed, arm flexed, waist, hip, thigh, calf) with an anthropometric tape; and bone breadths (humerus, bistyloid, femur) with a sliding bone caliper. Derived indices included Body Mass Index (BMI) and somatotype components (endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy) calculated via the Heath–Carter method. Gender comparisons were made using independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests, with Holm–Bonferroni correction applied for multiple comparisons. Results: Males displayed significantly higher height, weight, mesomorphy, and musculoskeletal dimensions (bone breadths and muscle girths), while females exhibited greater endomorphy and higher skinfold thickness. Differences in ectomorphy were not statistically significant. After Holm–Bonferroni adjustment, mesomorphy remained higher in males (p < 0.05), and endomorphy remained higher in females (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Elite male Kho-Kho players are predominantly mesomorphic with enhanced muscularity and skeletal robustness, whereas females demonstrate greater endomorphy reflecting higher fat-related body composition. These gender-specific somatotype profiles underscore the physiological demands of Kho-Kho and provide a scientific basis for athlete monitoring, training, and talent development.