Khelo India Tribal Games Set to Launch in Chhattisgarh
Inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games Announced
New Delhi, March 6: The first edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games is scheduled to take place from March 26 to April 6 across three cities in Chhattisgarh: Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Sarguja, as announced by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, on Friday.
This event will showcase seven competitive sports, including athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming, and wrestling, along with two demonstration sports: mallakhamb and kabaddi. Participants from various states and Union Territories of India will be represented at the Games.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasized that the Khelo India Tribal Games are part of a broader initiative to provide opportunities for youth interested in sports, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India by 2024, where sports play a crucial role.
The logo, theme song, and mascot for the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) were officially launched at the Late B. R. Yadav Sports Stadium in Bilaspur on December 23, with the event attended by Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao.
Mandaviya highlighted the importance of nurturing talent from tribal regions, stating, “Identifying and supporting talented youth from tribal communities is essential for expanding our athlete base.”
The KITG 2026 will be collaboratively organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Indian Olympic Association, National Sports Federations, and the Chhattisgarh state organizing committee, ensuring that technical standards meet international competition benchmarks.
The official mascot, ‘Morveer’, embodies Chhattisgarh’s cultural heritage. The name combines ‘Mor’, meaning ‘our own’ in Chhattisgarhi, and ‘Veer’, symbolizing bravery, representing the spirit and identity of India’s tribal communities.
Chhattisgarh’s role as the first state to host this significant national event dedicated to tribal athletes marks a pivotal moment in India’s sports history, focusing on tribal empowerment and grassroots inclusion.
The Khelo India Tribal Games are part of the Khelo India Scheme, a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, aimed at fostering mass participation and excellence in sports. The Khelo India Games were recognized as an ‘Event of National Importance’ in 2020 under the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act, 2007.