Raipur, March 29: Day 5 of the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 delivered thrilling action as wrestlers from Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh clinched two gold medals each, while Mizoram weightlifters signed off in style with a pair of gold medals.
Wrestling Arena Heats Up
Jharkhand made a powerful statement as Poonam Oraon secured gold in the women’s 50kg category with a 6-3 win, while Anjit Kumar Munda dominated the men’s 67kg Greco Roman final.
Himachal Pradesh matched the feat with gold medals from Navish Kumar (97kg Greco Roman) and Priyanka Chaudhary (women’s 62kg), showcasing their strength on the mat.
Jammu and Kashmir also celebrated a milestone moment, opening their medal account with a gold by Munir Hussain and a silver from Shama Hoon.
Mizoram Shines in Weightlifting
Mizoram continued its impressive run, with Zosangzuali and David Zohmingmawia clinching gold medals to take their tally to four and push the state to fifth place overall.
Meanwhile, Sambo Lapung of Arunachal Pradesh delivered a standout performance, lifting a massive 299kg to win gold and propel his state to third place in the standings.
Maharashtra Makes Its Move
Sakshi Burkule dominated the women’s 86kg category with a commanding 150kg lift, adding another gold to Maharashtra’s tally. Wrestler Vinod Salkar further strengthened their position with gold in the men’s 125kg freestyle event.
Medal Tally Update
Karnataka continues to lead the medal standings with 15 gold medals, followed by Odisha with nine. Arunachal Pradesh has climbed to third place with five gold medals.
Hosts Chhattisgarh added a silver and bronze in weightlifting but slipped to ninth position overall.
Rising Talent Across India
The fifth day highlighted the depth of talent emerging from across India’s tribal regions. From dominant wrestling bouts to record-breaking lifts, the competition continues to showcase future stars of Indian sports.
With more events lined up, the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 is proving to be a powerful platform for discovering and nurturing grassroots talent.