Khelo India Tribal Games 2026: Karnataka Overall Champions, Hosts Chhattisgarh Finish Ninth

Karnataka top Khelo India Tribal Games with 23 gold, Odisha second with 21, Jharkhand third, Komalika Bari and Arjun Khara win recurve archery gold on final day

Former world junior champion Komalika Bari of Jharkhand added the recurve women’s archery gold medal to her mixed triumph while Odisha’s Arjun Khara won recurve men’s category but these efforts were not enough for the chasing pack to dislodge Karnataka from the top of the medals tally on the final day of the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games on Friday.

30 States and Union Territories participated in the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games that witnessed close to 3800 participants compete in nine sports disciplines. A whopping 106 gold medals were on offer across archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling, while traditional sports like Mallakhamb and Kabaddi were demonstration sports.

Of the 106 gold medals, Karnataka claimed 23 along with 8 silver and 7 bronze to clinch the overall champions crown with Odisha finishing second with 21 gold, 15 silver and 21 bronze medals. Odisha were the only contingent to cross a half century of medals, finishing with 57 medals. Jharkhand were third with 16 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze.

Hosts Chhattisgarh also gave a strong account of the sporting talent among the tribal community as they clinched 3 gold, 10 silver and 6 bronze to finish ninth. Chhattisgarh’s last medal was a silver in men’s football on Saturday when they went down 0-1 against West Bengal in the final.

Overall champions Karnataka led the medals tally from the opening day as they dominated the swimming events, winning 15 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals. They added 5 gold in athletics and three in wrestling to ensure that neither Odisha or Jharkhand could catch up with them.