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Helping to showcase talent the Khelo India initiative

The Khelo India Youth Games, University Games, Winter Games, Para Games and other events under the banner promote sports at a grassroots level in India. The Khelo India Youth Games, University Games...

Monday, 22 Jun 2026

Inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 Conclude; Karnataka Tops Medal Tally

The first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 were successfully held from 25 March to 3 April 2026 in Chhattisgarh, marking a historic milestone in India’s sports ecosystem. The event brought together over 2,000 tribal athletes from across the country competing in multiple disciplines including archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, and wrestling. Karnataka emerged as the overall champion, securing the highest number of medals, followed by Odisha and Jharkhand. The Games aim to identify and nurture sporting talent from tribal communities while promoting indigenous sports such as Mallakhamb and Kabaddi. Additionally, the Union Budget 2026 announced the launch of a “Khelo India Mission”, focused on long-term talent development, infrastructure creation, sports science integration, and job creation in the sports sector. The initiative seeks to strengthen grassroots sports and transform India into a global sporting powerhouse over the next decade. These developments highlight the government’s strong push towards inclusive sports development and structured athlete support under the Khelo India programme.