Karnataka’s Dhoneesh N. and Odisha’s Anjali Munda secured the first gold medals in the men’s and women’s 200m freestyle swimming at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Raipur. Karnataka dominated the initial day, claiming five out of six gold medals, while Chhattisgarh also made its mark with silver and bronze in the 100m breaststroke events.
The Khelo India Tribal Games feature participants from 30 states and Union Territories competing in nine sports disciplines, with a total of 106 gold medals up for grabs. Karnataka leads the medal tally with seven medals, including five golds, followed by Odisha with four medals, including a gold, and Chhattisgarh in fourth place with two medals.
Dhoneesh clocked 2:03.55s to win the men’s 200m freestyle, with Anjali clinching the women’s gold with a time of 2:39.02s. The games also saw Manikanta L and Mehanjali from Karnataka dominating in the 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly events, each securing two gold medals.
Manikanta won the men’s 100m breaststroke in 1:07.41s, while Mehanjali triumphed in the women’s 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:25.81s. Both athletes continued their success by claiming gold in the 50m butterfly events.
