Kumar Bahukhandi
In Short
State’s Sports Ecosystem Set to Receive a Major Boost – Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao
Khelo India Tribal Games 2026: A Game-Changer and a Major Platform for Building Sports Careers – Olympians
Approximately 3,800 Participants to Take Part; Over 100 Athletes from Four States, Including Chhattisgarh
Competitions to be Held in Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja
A Total of 106 Gold Medals at Stake
Raipur: Chhattisgarh is fully prepared to host the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games, commencing on Wednesday, March 25. The state’s Deputy Chief Minister, Arun Sao, believes that this event will “give a major boost to the state’s sports ecosystem.” Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday March 24, 2026.
Sao, who also serves as the Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare—stated that the Khelo India Tribal Games would prove to be a “milestone” in the history of Indian sports.
Sao noted, “We have previously organised events such as the Surguja Olympics and the Bastar Olympics on a smaller scale. Now, by hosting the Khelo India Tribal Games, we are stepping onto a larger platform—one that will not only test our capabilities but also elevate them to new heights.” He added.
“This is, undoubtedly, a historic and memorable event for Chhattisgarh. It will significantly strengthen our sporting talent and infrastructure. Furthermore, it will provide us with direct, hands-on experience in organizing a national-level competition.”
Arun Sao further explained, “The experience of playing alongside—and watching—athletes who compete at national and international levels will be immensely enriching for the athletes of Chhattisgarh. There is no doubt that this event will prove to be a tremendous asset for both the state’s sports infrastructure and its athletes.”
Thirty states and Union Territories are set to participate in the Khelo India Tribal Games, which will feature a total of nine sporting disciplines. Medals will be awarded in Archery, Athletics, Football, Hockey, Swimming, Weightlifting, and Wrestling, while Mallakhamb and Kabaddi will be included as demonstration sports.
Approximately 3,800 participants will take part in these games, which will continue until April 3. The competitions will be held in Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja. A total of 106 gold medals will be at stake. Athletics will award the highest number of gold medals, with 34 up for grabs. Swimming (24), wrestling (18), weightlifting (16), and archery (10) will also feature double-digit gold medal counts.
Hockey and football are team sports, and their events will be hosted in Raipur. Athletics will be held in Jagdalpur, while wrestling competitions will take place in Surguja.
India’s top athletes—including hockey Olympians Dilip Tirkey and Salima Tete, as well as top sprinter Animesh Kujur—stated, “The Khelo India Tribal Games serve as a magnificent platform for building a career in sports and for drawing inspiration from the legendary athletes who have emerged from the tribal community.”
Hockey India President and former Olympian Dilip Tirkey told SAI Media, “It is a matter of pride for me—and indeed for all of us—that a championship of this nature is being launched in the country for the very first time. This presents an excellent opportunity for the youth and for tribal athletes to showcase their talent, advance in their sporting careers, and aspire to represent the nation. It is the vision of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, that India should evolve into a sporting nation. He desires that every young person remain actively engaged in some form of sport.”
More than 100 athletes from the host state of Chhattisgarh, along with those from Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam, will participate in the games. The ratio of male to female athletes is expected to be approximately 50-50, which aligns with the principle of gender equality enshrined in the Olympic Charter. Dilip Tirkey stated, “Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya also desires that, through sports, our athletes—particularly those from tribal communities—be able to build successful careers, improve their lives, and represent the nation,
I myself hail from a tribal family and have reached my current position through the medium of sports, specifically hockey. I am confident that all the tribal children participating in this competition have a bright future ahead. In the past, numerous tribal athletes have represented the country and have served as sources of inspiration for our society.”Dilip Tirkey added.
Animesh Kujur—the national record holder in the 100m and 200m sprints and one of India’s rising stars in athletics—told SAI Media, “There are still many regions in India where the reach of sports remains limited. In this context, the organization of the Khelo India Tribal Games becomes all the more significant. I commend this initiative by the government, which has successfully brought together tribal youth from across the country on a single platform.”
All the athletes participating in this inaugural edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games were selected through trials conducted by various National Sports Federations. Coaches appointed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) will closely monitor the athletes’ performance. Tirkey remarked, “It is my hope that all our tribal athletes and children will showcase their talent through sports, play for the nation, and build successful careers.
The Prime Minister’s vision for the 2036 Olympics and a ‘Developed India’ (Viksit Bharat) is for our country to emerge as a vibrant, youth-centric sporting nation. I am fully confident that, one day, our country will indeed rise as a formidable sporting powerhouse.” he stated.
