The fourth day of the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Raipur delivered a mix of long-awaited breakthroughs and continued dominance, as host state Chhattisgarh finally secured its first gold medal while Odisha’s women swimmers signed off with a commanding performance in the pool.
With competitions intensifying across disciplines, the day also saw Arunachal Pradesh make a strong push up the medals table through weightlifting, while Karnataka continued to consolidate its position at the top.
Nikita Delivers Historic Gold for Hosts
The biggest moment of the day belonged to Chhattisgarh’s Nikita, who clinched the state’s first gold medal of the Games in the women’s 77kg weightlifting category. Competing at the Pt Ravishankar University ground, the 20-year-old produced a dominant display to finish well ahead of the field.
Nikita registered a total lift of 160kg, comprising 70kg in snatch and 90kg in clean and jerk. The margin of victory was emphatic 34kg clear of silver medallist Srimati Jani of Odisha underlining her control over the competition. For the hosts, who had already accumulated multiple silver and bronze medals, the gold was both symbolic and significant. It not only lifted morale but also validated the state’s growing investment in strength sports.
Odisha Women Take Control in Swimming Finale
While Chhattisgarh celebrated its breakthrough, Odisha’s women swimmers dominated the final day of swimming events, winning all three gold medals on offer. Ritika Minz led the charge by claiming the 100m freestyle title, clocking 1:12.93 to finish ahead of teammate Krushna Priya Nayak. The one-two finish highlighted Odisha’s depth in the discipline.
Anjali Munda continued her remarkable run by securing gold in the 50m backstroke with a time of 36.37 seconds. This victory took her overall tally to five gold medals, four of them coming in individual events making her one of the standout performers of the Games. Odisha also showcased team strength in relay events, completing their sweep with victory in the women’s 4x100m medley relay.
Among the more heartwarming stories of the day was the performance of Assam siblings Nibir Krow and Violina Krow, who both found the podium in swimming. Nibir clinched gold in the men’s 50m backstroke, edging past Karnataka’s Dhoneesh N in a closely contested race. His winning time of 31.31 seconds was enough to secure top honours.
Earlier, Violina added to the family’s medal tally by winning bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle. Their combined success highlighted Assam’s growing presence in swimming events at the Games.
Arunachal Pradesh emerged as one of the biggest movers on Day 4, thanks to strong performances in men’s weightlifting. Ruba Tadu dominated the men’s 88kg category with a total lift of 274kg, while Lalu Taku followed up with gold in the 94kg division, lifting 250kg. Both athletes secured comfortable victories, underlining the state’s strength in heavier weight categories.
These results significantly boosted Arunachal Pradesh’s position in the medals tally, bringing them closer to the top three.
Karnataka Maintain Overall Dominance
Despite strong challenges from other states, Karnataka continued to lead the medals tally, driven largely by their exceptional showing in swimming. By the end of Day 4, Karnataka had amassed 15 gold medals, along with six silver and three bronze. Their swimmers have been central to this success, with standout performers like Manikanta L and Dhoneesh N delivering consistently across events.
Manikanta, in particular, has emerged as one of the most dominant athletes of the Games, finishing with eight gold medals and one silver. Dhoneesh contributed five golds and one silver, while Meghanjali led the women’s effort with four gold medals.
As the Games progress, the medals table is beginning to reflect clear patterns of dominance and emerging challengers. Karnataka remain firmly on top, while Odisha’s strong showing especially in women’s swimming has kept them in second place. Assam, with consistent performances across disciplines, holds third position.
Chhattisgarh, boosted by Nikita’s gold, sits seventh but will take confidence from the breakthrough moment.
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With multiple disciplines nearing their conclusion, Day 4 provided both defining performances and shifting dynamics in the medals race.
For hosts Chhattisgarh, the long-awaited gold could act as a catalyst for further success. For Odisha and Karnataka, the focus remains on sustaining momentum and consolidating their positions. As the Khelo India Tribal Games move into their final phase, the competition is not just about medals but about stories of resilience, emergence, and the growing depth of sporting talent across India’s tribal regions.
