Khelo India Tribal Games: Karnataka tighten grip on medals table as Manikanta leads charge; Chhattisgarh pick up three medals

Karnataka continued their dominance at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games, riding on a strong showing in swimming to extend their lead atop the medals tally on Day 3. Manikanta L once again stood out, adding two gold medals and a silver to his growing haul, as Karnataka surged to 13 gold, five silver and one bronze. Odisha remained a distant second with six gold medals, while Assam held third place.

Hosts Chhattisgarh enjoyed their best outing of the Games so far, securing one silver and two bronze medals. Anushka Bhagat clinched her third silver, finishing second in the women’s 50m breaststroke, while Nikhil Xalco and Nyasa Paikra contributed bronze medals in their respective events. Maharashtra’s Tanvi Dhurve emerged as a notable performer, becoming the first swimmer outside Karnataka and Odisha to win gold, finishing well clear in the women’s 100m butterfly.

In the pool, Karnataka’s Meghanjali claimed her third gold of the Games in the women’s 50m breaststroke, underlining the state’s dominance in swimming events. Manikanta added gold medals in the men’s 50m breaststroke and 100m butterfly before settling for silver in the 50m freestyle, where teammate Dhoonesh N touched ahead.

Elsewhere, weightlifting saw Arunachal Pradesh open its gold medal account through Anai Wangsu in the women’s 58kg category, before Richin Chongruju doubled the tally with a win in the men’s 79kg event. Odisha’s Bidu Smita Bhoi also secured gold in the women’s 63kg category. With participation from 30 states and Union Territories and over 3,800 athletes competing across disciplines, the Games have begun to see a wider spread of medals, with 14 states already on the podium and six claiming at least one gold.

-IANS