Raipur, April 3 (NationPress) The first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, organized in Chhattisgarh, ended on a triumphant note with Karnataka being crowned the overall champion.

This multi-sport event was designed to discover hidden talent among the tribal and remote populations across the country, showcasing enthusiastic participation and remarkable performances.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai extended his congratulations to all athletes and made a pivotal announcement to enhance sports initiatives within the state.

He revealed that starting from the next edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games, the Chhattisgarh government will introduce cash rewards for medalists: Rs 2 lakh for gold, Rs 1.50 lakh for silver, and Rs 1 lakh for bronze in the individual events. Team winners will receive Rs 1 lakh for gold, Rs 75,000 for silver, and Rs 50,000 for bronze.

This initiative is anticipated to further inspire tribal youth to engage in sports with greater seriousness and achieve more accolades for the state.

Karnataka led the medal count with an impressive performance. As of the latest updates, the standings 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 performance with various gold medals.

Chhattisgarh (Host): Achieved its best-ever performance with 3 Gold, 9 Silver, and 6 Bronze (Total 18 medals), finishing in the top 10.

Key highlights for the host state included: Weightlifter Nikita clinching Chhattisgarh’s inaugural gold in the women’s 77kg category; Swimmer Anushka Bhagat consistently securing multiple silver medals.

The women’s football team triumphed over Jharkhand 1-0 to earn gold; additionally, they secured bronze medals in men’s hockey and various athletics and swimming events.

The Games incorporated disciplines such as athletics, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, archery, football, and hockey.

Thousands of tribal athletes from all over India competed, transforming the event into a grand celebration of tribal sports talent.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasized that the successful hosting of the Games has placed Chhattisgarh on the national sports map.

He commended the athletes for their commitment and assured comprehensive government support for enhancing sports infrastructure and nurturing talent in the state.

The announcement of cash incentives for the upcoming edition has been warmly received by sports aficionados and is viewed as a significant boost for the advancement of tribal sports in Chhattisgarh.