CM Pema Khandu Hails Arunachal's RFC India 2026 Double Podium
Synopsis
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu congratulated Team Moca for winning the 4x4 Extreme category and Team X treme Arunachal for finishing runner-up in the 4x4 Stock category at Rainforest Challenge India 2026 in Goa, calling the double podium 'nothing short of extraordinary.'
Key Takeaways
Team Moca (Ujjal Namshum and Chetthan Chengappa) won the 4x4 Extreme category at Rainforest Challenge India 2026 in Goa.
Team X treme Arunachal (Naku Hage Chada and Loda Punyo) secured the runner-up position in the 4x4 Stock category at the same event.
CM Pema Khandu publicly congratulated both teams on 2 August 2026 , calling the achievement 'nothing short of extraordinary.' Rainforest Challenge India is widely considered one of the world's most demanding off-road motorsport competitions.
The double podium reflects a growing northeastern presence in national extreme motorsport events.
Two teams from Arunachal Pradesh returned from Goa with podium finishes at one of the toughest off-road motorsport competitions on the planet — and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu made sure the nation noticed.
On Sunday, 2 August 2026, CM Khandu took to X to congratulate Ujjal Namshum and Chetthan Chengappa of Team Moca for clinching the championship in the 4x4 Extreme category at Rainforest Challenge India 2026. In the same breath, he applauded Naku Hage Chada and Loda Punyo of Team X treme Arunachal for a runner-up finish in the 4x4 Stock category — two podiums, one state, one event.
What Rainforest Challenge India demands
Rainforest Challenge — the Indian edition held annually in Goa — is a gruelling multi-day off-road motorsport event modelled on the original Malaysian series, which is recognised as one of the world's most demanding 4x4 competitions. Competitors navigate dense terrain, water crossings, steep inclines, and unpredictable natural obstacles. Finishing is an achievement in itself. Winning is something else entirely. The Extreme category, where Team Moca took top honours, typically features the most heavily modified vehicles and the most technically punishing trails. The Stock category, where Team X treme Arunachal secured second place, restricts vehicle modifications — demanding raw driving skill over mechanical advantage. Both podiums, in other words, were earned the hard way.Arunachal's rising footprint in adventure motorsport
The northeast has long been defined by its rugged landscape — steep ridgelines, river valleys, and terrain that would challenge any vehicle. It is no coincidence that states like Arunachal Pradesh are producing competitors drawn to extreme off-road disciplines. Over recent years, northeastern athletes have recorded growing participation in national motorsport and adventure sport categories, a trend that state administrations have actively sought to amplify. CM Khandu's public congratulations fit a broader pattern of the Arunachal government spotlighting individual athletic achievement — particularly from disciplines that carry the state's identity in terrain and toughness. 'Competing in one of the world's toughest off-road motorsport events and bringing home two podium finishes is nothing short of extraordinary,' Khandu wrote, adding that 'Arunachal is proud of your grit, skill, and fighting spirit.' Two podiums from one state at a single national extreme motorsport event is not routine. Watch for whether this result translates into structured state support for the teams ahead of future competitions.Point of View
A discipline that resonates with the state's rugged geography, is a soft-power play aimed at youth engagement and regional pride. The double podium at a nationally competitive event gives Khandu a tangible, specific win to amplify. If the state follows with structured support — funding, infrastructure, or recognition — this moment could mark a genuine inflection point for Arunachal in adventure sports.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 4x4 Extreme category at Rainforest Challenge India 2026?
Ujjal Namshum and Chetthan Chengappa of Team Moca won the 4x4 Extreme category at Rainforest Challenge India 2026, held in Goa.
Which Arunachal team finished runner-up at RFC India 2026?
Naku Hage Chada and Loda Punyo of Team X treme Arunachal finished runner-up in the 4x4 Stock category at Rainforest Challenge India 2026.
What is Rainforest Challenge India?
Rainforest Challenge India is an annual extreme off-road motorsport event held in Goa , modelled on the original Malaysian series and considered one of the most demanding 4x4 competitions in the world.
What did CM Pema Khandu say about the Arunachal teams?
CM Khandu said competing in 'one of the world's toughest off-road motorsport events and bringing home two podium finishes is nothing short of extraordinary,' adding that 'Arunachal is proud of your grit, skill, and fighting spirit.'
Where was Rainforest Challenge India 2026 held?
Rainforest Challenge India 2026 was held in Goa .
