Karnataka continued its overwhelming dominance at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games, becoming the first state to cross the 10-gold mark, thanks largely to another outstanding display by swimmer Manikanta L.
On a day where the competition widened its reach across disciplines and states, the hosts Chhattisgarh also recorded their best performance yet, securing one silver and two bronze medals to energise the home crowd in Raipur.
At the heart of Karnataka’s surge is Manikanta L, whose consistency and versatility in the pool have made him the standout athlete of the Games so far. By the end of Day 3, Karnataka had amassed 13 gold, five silver, and one bronze medal all 13 golds coming exclusively from swimming. Remarkably, Manikanta alone has contributed eight gold medals, underlining both his individual dominance and Karnataka’s structured strength in aquatic events.
Manikanta’s Day 3 campaign was once again relentless. He claimed gold in the men’s 50m breaststroke with a time of 31.08 seconds and followed it up with another top finish in the 100m butterfly, clocking 59.94 seconds. His ability to switch between sprint and endurance formats has been a defining feature of his campaign. However, signs of fatigue emerged in the final race of the day, where he settled for silver in the 50m freestyle. His statemate Dhoonesh N edged him out with a winning time of 25.75 seconds, while Manikanta finished in 26.38 seconds.
Dhoonesh, who had earlier won gold in the 200m freestyle on the opening day, reinforced Karnataka’s depth in swimming with this victory. The state’s swimmers have effectively turned the pool into their stronghold, consistently occupying multiple podium spots across events.
In the women’s category, Karnataka’s Meghanjali continued her impressive run, securing her third gold medal of the Games in the 50m breaststroke with a time of 38.23 seconds. She later added another gold in the 50m freestyle, clocking 31.64 seconds, further strengthening Karnataka’s tally.
While Karnataka dominated proceedings, Day 3 also saw new stories emerge from other states. Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh opened their gold medal accounts, reflecting the growing competitive spread at the Games.
Maharashtra’s breakthrough came through Tanvi Dhurve, who produced a standout performance in the women’s 100m butterfly. She clocked 1:23.65 seconds to clinch gold, becoming the first swimmer outside Karnataka and Odisha to top the podium in swimming events. Her victory was comprehensive, finishing well ahead of the field and marking a significant moment in the competition.
“I have been swimming for the past eight years, inspired by my family. It feels great to win a medal here,” said Tanvi, who recently completed her Class 10 examinations, highlighting the blend of youth and potential on display at the Games.
Arunachal Pradesh, meanwhile, made a strong statement in weightlifting. Anai Wangsu secured gold in the women’s 58kg category with a total lift of 169kg, while Richin Chongruju added another gold in the men’s 79kg category with an impressive 269kg lift. These performances not only boosted Arunachal’s medal tally but also showcased the strength of athletes emerging from the Northeast region.
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Hosts Chhattisgarh had ample reason to celebrate as well. Anushka Bhagat continued her consistent run, clinching her third silver medal of the Games in the women’s 50m breaststroke. Despite narrowly missing out on gold again, her performances have been among the most consistent across the competition.
Nikhil Xalco added to the state’s tally with a bronze in the men’s 50m breaststroke, while Nyasa Paikra secured another bronze in the women’s 100m butterfly. These results marked Chhattisgarh’s best day so far, taking their overall medal count to six three silvers and three bronzes.
After three days of competition, 14 states and Union Territories have registered at least one medal, while six states have claimed gold medals. Odisha remains second in the standings with six gold medals, followed by Assam in third place.
Beyond the numbers, the Games are steadily fulfilling their core objective providing a national platform for tribal athletes to compete, gain exposure, and showcase their talent. With close to 3,800 participants across nine disciplines and 106 gold medals on offer, the scale and diversity of competition continue to grow with each passing day.
As the Khelo India Tribal Games progress, Karnataka’s dominance sets the benchmark, but the emergence of new champions from across states ensures that the competition remains dynamic. With several events still to come, the focus now shifts to whether other states can close the gap or if Karnataka’s swimmers will continue to dictate the narrative in Raipur.
