Karnataka Dominates Day One of Khelo India Tribal Games with Stellar Swimming Performances

On the opening day of the Khelo India Tribal Games in Raipur, Karnataka's swimming team dominated the competition, winning five out of six gold medals. Dhoneesh N led the charge with a stunning victory in the men's 200m freestyle, while Anjali Munda secured gold in the women's event. With a total of seven medals, Karnataka topped the leaderboard, showcasing their prowess in the pool. The event features nearly 3,800 athletes from 30 states and Union Territories competing across various disciplines, promising an exciting showcase of talent.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 26, 2026, 10:43 IST

Karnataka's Swimming Triumph at Khelo India Tribal Games

Raipur: The Karnataka swimming team displayed exceptional talent at the Khelo India Tribal Games, securing five out of six available gold medals on the first day of competition. Dhoneesh N made headlines by winning the men's 200m freestyle with a remarkable time of 2:03.55, finishing nearly seven seconds ahead of his teammate Keerthan Sharat, who clocked in at 2:10.99. Bhaktish Kumre from Maharashtra earned the bronze with a time of 2:14.73.

Following the initial day of events, Karnataka topped the medal tally with a total of seven medals, including five golds. Odisha secured the second position with four medals, one of which was gold, while the host state, Chhattisgarh, ranked fourth with two medals. Anjali Munda from Odisha also shone brightly, winning the Women's 200m Freestyle gold in a nail-biting finish at 2:39.02, just edging out Karnataka's Nidhi S, who took silver at 2:39.09. Sriya Padiami from Odisha completed the podium with a time of 2:49.04.

Karnataka's dominance was evident across various events, with Manikanta L and Mehanjali each claiming two gold medals. Manikanta triumphed in the men's 100m breaststroke, finishing in 1:07.41, while Palash Thakur from Maharashtra followed in second place at 1:11.69.

Nikhil Xalco from Chhattisgarh marked the host state's first medal by securing bronze in the same event with a time of 1:11.77. Manikanta later returned to win the 50m butterfly gold, clocking 27.06 seconds, ahead of Firmino Emon Lalung from Assam (27.69 seconds) and Riyaj Tripura from Tripura (28.48 seconds).

In the women's events, Mehanjali excelled, winning the 100m breaststroke gold in 1:25.81. Anushka Bhagat from Chhattisgarh took silver at 1:29.10, while Odisha’s Rinky Murmu finished third with a time of 1:34.70. The Khelo India Tribal Games feature participation from 30 states and Union Territories, with nearly 3,800 athletes competing in nine different sports.