RAIPUR (Chhattisgarh, India): The Indian state of Chhattisgarh will host the inaugural “Khelo India Tribal Games” (KITG) from March 25 to April 6, 2026, marking the first national multi-sport event in India exclusively for tribal athletes.
India’s Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said last week that the event was part of the government’s effort to expand sporting opportunities among tribal communities and integrate tribal talent into the country’s broader sports ecosystem.
The events will be held in three cities of Chhattisgarh – capital Raipur, Jagdalpur and Surguja. Participants are expected from tribal populations form across the country. The Games will feature seven medal sports – athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming and wrestling. There will be two demonstration sports – Mallakhamb and Kabaddi. Mallakhamb, a traditional Indian sport that blends gymnastic and aerial skills using a pole or rope, reflects the cultural fusion objective of the event. Kabaddi, widely played across rural India, has historical roots in traditional tribal and rural games and has grown into a nationally recognized competitive sport.
KITG is being organised under the Khelo India Scheme, a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports aimed at promoting grassroots sports, identifying talent early, and enhancing India’s competitive sporting culture. Mandaviya said the Games were a dedicated platform where promising tribal athletes could showcase their skills in structured competition and receive support to progress into higher levels of sport. Young athletes discovered through the Tribal Games may receive coaching support, structured training opportunities, and potential pathways to national teams and scholarships. The inclusion of Olympic and nationally competitive disciplines is expected to raise the visibility of tribal sports talent within India’s national sporting framework.
The event is being jointly hosted by India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Indian Olympic Association, and the national sports federations of various disciplines.
The logo, theme song and mascot for the event were unveiled last year. The mascot ‘Morveer’ is a name deeply rooted in Chhattisgarh’s cultural ethos. Derived from two powerful words, ‘Mor’, meaning mine or our own in Chhattisgarhi, and ‘Veer’, symbolizing courage and valor, the mascot represents the spirit, pride and identity of India’s tribal communities.
The event marks a significant milestone in India’s sporting journey aimed at tribal empowerment and grassroots inclusion.
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