Raipur, April 7 – The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) 2026 in Chhattisgarh has brought together athletes from tribal communities at various stages of their careers on a single platform. For some, it was an opportunity to gain experience competing in multi-disciplinary events, while for others, it was another step in their career development.
In total, 30 states and Union Territories participated in the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG), which saw nearly 3800 participants competing in nine sports disciplines. There were over 106 gold medals awarded in sports such as archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, and wrestling, while traditional sports like mallakhamb and kabaddi were demonstration events.
As India prepares to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 and position itself as a potential host for the 2036 Summer Olympics, the Khelo India Tribal Games provided athletes from diverse tribal backgrounds with an opportunity to showcase their potential and strengthen India’s talent pool across various disciplines. The games were held in three cities in Chhattisgarh – Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Ambikapur.
Here are some notable athletes who have made a significant impact, both nationally and internationally, and those who show promise for future success:
* Manikanta L. (Swimmer): The most decorated athlete of the Games, Manikanta L., won eight gold medals and a silver in swimming, laying the foundation for Karnataka to win the overall championship. The 21-year-old, who previously won medals at the Khelo India University Games, was preparing for the upcoming Asian Games and participated in multiple disciplines to gain experience. He dominated most of his races and believes that his performance here will give him the confidence to focus on qualifying for the Asian Games.
* Anjali Munda (Swimmer): The 15-year-old from Odisha's Jajpur district was one of the brightest stars in the swimming competition. Her five gold medals – 200m Freestyle, 200m IM, 100m Backstroke, 50m Backstroke, and 4x100 medley – not only demonstrated her versatility but also her ability to outperform older competitors. As a Kalinga Institute of Social Studies student, she participated in her first Khelo India Games and showed the potential to excel on the international stage.
* Komalika Bari (Archer): The second Indian after Dipika Kumari to be crowned World Cadet and World Youth Champion, she is also a strong contender for the Indian team for the 2026 Asian Games. She has been training for the selection trials in Pune and believes that participating in the Khelo India Tribal Games will provide her with valuable match experience. She successfully won individual gold and a mixed team gold in Recurve, while her team secured a silver against Nagaland in the final.
* Kiran Pisda (Football): The Chhattisgarh women's football team captain led her team to victory, even wearing the goalkeeper's gloves in the semifinals during the penalty shootout. Kiran, who is also the highest scorer for her team, demonstrated strong leadership and inspired her young squad. Kiran has already represented India in SAFF competitions and played in the Croatian League. The 24-year-old hopes to become a regular member of the Indian national squad due to her versatility.
* Babulal Hembrom (Weightlifter): The 19-year-old from Jharkhand became the first weightlifter from his state to win a Khelo India Youth Games gold in 2024, and is the first international weightlifter from the state to win a medal in the IWF World Youth Championships and Asian Youth Championships. The lifter from Keribanda village in Ramgarh district is transitioning from the junior to the senior circuit and is training at the National Camp in SAI Patiala. The silver medal in the Khelo India Tribal Games has given him the confidence to compete with senior athletes.
* Shiv Kumar Soren (Sprinter): The Jharkhand sprinter won gold medals in both the 100m and 200m with ease. He clocked 10.58s in the 100m race and 21.51s in the 200m. The trainee of the Centre of Excellence in Bokaro has a muscular build and the potential to achieve even faster times.
* Jhilli Dalabehera (Odisha): Jhilli, one of the most decorated lifters from Odisha, won gold in the 45kg category at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships and a silver in the 49kg category at the 2021 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship. The Indian Railways employee participated in the 53kg category in the Khelo India Tribal Games and won the gold medal.
* Bhargavi Bhagora (Archer): The 21-year-old from Gujarat lost the recurve individual final against Komalika Bari in Raipur, but her performance showed her potential to excel in the selection trials for the Indian team for the Asian Games in Japan. Hailing from the Aravalli district in Gujarat, Bhargavi has also won medals at the Khelo India University Games and currently trains at the Nadiad High Performance centre supported by the Sports Authority of India.