Raipur, April 3 (AHN) 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.​