- Odisha and Jharkhand Finish Second and Third
- J&K Bags 8 Medals Across Wrestling, Weightlifting, Hockey, Athletics
Raipur : Karnataka emerged as the dominant force at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) 2026, clinching the overall champions crown with 23 gold medals, while Odisha and Jharkhand finished second and third with 21 and 16 gold medals respectively. Hosts Chhattisgarh, despite spirited performances, ended ninth with 3 gold, 10 silver, and 6 bronze medals.
The week-long event, held at the KridaParisar grounds in Jagdalpur, featured nearly 3,800 athletes from 30 states and Union Territories, competing across nine sports disciplines including athletics, swimming, wrestling, weightlifting, football, hockey, and archery. Traditional sports such as Mallakhamb and Kabaddi were included as demonstration events.
Karnataka led the Games from the start, excelling in swimming, where it secured 15 golds, alongside 5 silver and 3 bronze medals. Strong performances in athletics (5 gold) and wrestling (3 gold) ensured the state remained uncatchable on the medal table. Swimmer Manikanta L emerged as the most successful athlete of the Games, winning 8 gold and 1 silver, while teammate Dhoneesh N added 5 gold and a silver in swimming events.
Odisha stood out for winning at least one gold in all six core disciplines, finishing with 21 gold, 15 silver, and 21 bronze medals. Jharkhand shone in athletics, wrestling, and archery, securing 16 gold along with 8 silver and 11 bronze medals. Former world junior champion Komalika Bari added the women’s recurve archery gold to Jharkhand’s tally on the final day, while Odisha’s Arjun Khara took the men’s recurve title.
In men’s football, West Bengal edged hosts Chhattisgarh 1-0 to claim gold, leaving the hosts with silver. The archery competitions on the final day also saw Nagaland win the women’s recurve team gold, while Jharkhand took the men’s team crown.
Jammu and Kashmir finished 20th in the overall medal tally at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, securing a total of 8 medals across four disciplines. In wrestling, the Union Territory claimed 1 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze, while in weightlifting, athletes added 1 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze.
The hockey contingent contributed 1 bronze, and in athletics, the team earned 1 bronze, reflecting steady participation and the growing potential of tribal athletes from the region.
A total of 25 states and UTs featured on the medal tally, with 20 winning at least one gold, highlighting the depth of tribal talent across the country. Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh rounded out the top five, with 6 gold medals each.
The Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 not only celebrated sporting excellence but also provided a platform for tribal youth to compete at the national level, showcasing emerging talent and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
