Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The inaugural edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 will take place in Chhattisgarh from March 25 to April 6, marking a major step toward empowering tribal athletes and celebrating indigenous sporting traditions. The multi city event will be hosted across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja, bringing together participants from tribal communities across the country.
The games aim to highlight traditional talent and encourage broader participation in sports from tribal regions under the theme “Tribal Pride, Sporting Glory (Janajatiya Garv, Khel Samman)”. The official mascot, Morveer, symbolises courage, valour, and the energetic spirit of India’s tribal youth.
The sporting programme includes seven competitive disciplines: athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming, and wrestling. In addition, two demonstration sports, mallakhamb and kabaddi, will showcase traditional and indigenous athletic practices that are deeply rooted in India’s cultural heritage.
The event is organised under the Khelo India Scheme, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports aimed at strengthening grassroots sports development and promoting excellence. The Khelo India Games were declared an event of national importance in 2020 under the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act, 2007, highlighting their significance in the country’s sporting ecosystem.
Goa will be represented by a strong contingent of 62 athletes and 19 officials who will compete in football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, and athletics. The athletes secured their places through a two stage selection process that began with state trials in Goa followed by advanced selection rounds conducted in states including Jharkhand and Gujarat.
The football, swimming, weightlifting, and hockey teams departed for the venue on March 22, while the athletics contingent of 22 members is scheduled to leave on March 27. Preparatory coaching camps are currently being conducted under the guidance of coaches from the Sports Authority of Goa to ensure athletes are ready for the national stage.
The participation marks one of the largest contingents from Goa in a national level sporting event, reflecting the state’s growing commitment to developing competitive athletes.
