Raipur, March 30: Day 6 of the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 witnessed thrilling performances in athletics and wrestling, even as unseasonal rains forced the cancellation of the evening athletics session in Jagdalpur.
Golden Runs in Athletics
Nedi Ngi of Arunachal Pradesh delivered a stunning performance in the women’s 5000m, holding back until the final lap before unleashing a powerful sprint to clinch gold with a time of 18:24.66s.
In the men’s 5000m, Maharashtra dominated the track as Govind Padekar secured gold (15:11.35s), followed closely by teammate Suraj Mashi, completing a remarkable 1-2 finish.
“I am happy to make a strong comeback and now aim to enter the national camp,” said Ngi after her victory.
Rain Plays Spoilsport
The excitement was briefly halted as unexpected rains disrupted proceedings, leading to the cancellation of the evening athletics events in Jagdalpur.
Karnataka Strengthens Its Grip
Karnataka extended its dominance at the top of the medals tally with two gold medals in wrestling, taking their total to 17 golds.
Rohan Doddamani claimed gold in the 60kg Greco Roman category, while Manisha Siddi added another with a hard-fought victory in the women’s 76kg final.
Bihar Breaks Through
Mulayam Kharwar delivered a memorable performance to secure Bihar’s first gold medal, winning the men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling final with authority.
Hockey Final Set
In women’s hockey, Odisha stormed into the final with a dominant 8-0 victory over Madhya Pradesh, while Mizoram edged past Jharkhand 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final clash.
Medal Tally Update
Karnataka leads the standings with 17 gold, followed by Odisha in second place. Arunachal Pradesh strengthened its third position thanks to Nedi Ngi’s gold medal performance.
A Platform for Future Stars
The Khelo India Tribal Games continue to highlight emerging talent from across India’s tribal regions, offering athletes a national platform to showcase their skills and chase bigger dreams.
Despite weather interruptions, Day 6 proved once again that determination and talent remain unstoppable forces on the road to sporting excellence.