Raipur, April 3 (IANS) The maiden, inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, hosted by Chhattisgarh, concluded on Friday on a high note with Karnataka emerging as the overall champion.
The multi-sport event, aimed at unearthing hidden talent from tribal and remote areas of the country, witnessed enthusiastic participation and several outstanding performances.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, while congratulating the participating athletes, made a significant announcement to boost sports in the state.
He declared that from the next edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games, the Chhattisgarh government will award cash prizes to gold (Rs 2 lakh), silver (Rs 1.50 lakh), and bronze (Rs 1 lakh) medal winners in the individual category, while teams will be given Rs 1 lakh for gold, Rs 75,000 for silver, and Rs 50,000 for bronze medal winners.
This move is expected to further motivate tribal youth to pursue sports seriously and bring more laurels to the state.
Karnataka dominated the medal tally with a commanding performance. At the time of the latest updates, the top positions were as follows:
Karnataka: 21 Gold, 6 Silver, 5 Bronze (Leading the table); Odisha: 9 Gold, 4 Silver, 10 Bronze (Second position); Arunachal Pradesh: Strong showing with multiple golds.
Chhattisgarh (Host): Secured its best-ever performance with 3 Gold, 9 Silver, and 6 Bronze (Total 18 medals), finishing in the top 10.
Notable highlights for the host state included: Weightlifter Nikita winning Chhattisgarh’s first gold in the women’s 77kg category; Swimmer Anushka Bhagat consistently winning multiple silver medals.
The women’s football team defeated Jharkhand 1-0 to claim gold; Bronze medals in men’s hockey and several athletics and swimming events.
The Games featured disciplines such as athletics, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, archery, football, and hockey.
Thousands of tribal athletes from across India competed, making the event a grand celebration of tribal sports talent.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the successful hosting of the Games has put Chhattisgarh on the national sports map.
He praised the athletes for their dedication and assured full government support for sports infrastructure and talent nurturing in the state.
The announcement of cash incentives from the next edition has been widely welcomed by sports enthusiasts and is seen as a major boost for tribal sports development in Chhattisgarh.
--IANS
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