Home favorite Princess Alexander Thomas from Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu secured the initial gold medal at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 by excelling in the women’s Tunngal category in Pencak Silat at Ghoghla Beach. Raja Das of West Bengal also emerged victorious in the men’s Tunngal event on the same day. The hosts were in contention for both gold medals, similar to the previous year’s performance.
Princess Alexander Thomas defeated Bhoomika Jitendra Jain of Madhya Pradesh in the women’s final, setting a strong start for the hosts. In the men’s final, Raja Das showcased superior technical skills to overcome the previous gold medalist, Prasanna Bendre. The Khelo India Beach Games 2026, organized by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, features over 1100 participants competing in eight sports, with 32 gold medals at stake.
Competition intensified for semifinal spots in Beach Kabaddi as Haryana secured a victory over Maharashtra in the women’s category. Uttar Pradesh dominated Andhra Pradesh in the men’s section, displaying exceptional raiding skills. In Beach Soccer, Kerala and hosts Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu started their campaigns with convincing wins over Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, respectively.
In other matches, Gujarat women outplayed Himachal Pradesh in Beach Soccer, while Goa, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh teams began their Beach Volleyball campaign with successful performances.
