Khelo India Tribal Games: Karnataka crowned champs, Bhutia hails meet

Former footballer Bhaichung Bhutia hailed the Khelo India Tribal Games as a great platform for tribal athletes. Karnataka topped the medal tally, followed by Odisha and Jharkhand, while hosts Chhattisgarh finished ninth in the competition.

Former Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia hailed the Khelo India Tribal Games as a great platform for athletes of the tribal community and said there is huge scope for sports in the tribal belt. During the competition, the hosts Chhattisgarh finished ninth on the medals tally with 3 gold, 10 silver and 6 bronze medals. Karnataka were crowned the overall champions, claiming 23 gold along with 8 silver and 7 bronze. Odisha finished second with 21 gold, 15 silver and 21 bronze medals. Odisha were the only contingent to cross a half century of medals, finishing with 57 medals. Jharkhand were third with 16 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze.

Speaking to the media, Bhutia said that the tribal people are known to be "sporty" and expressed optimism that the competition would prove to be a big stage for the tribal athletes who want to represent the country in the coming years. "I think Khelo India is a good initiative by the Indian government and the Chhattisgarh government. Here, the tribes are known to be very sporty in India. It is also proven given tribal have won medals here, I think there is a huge scope in the tribal belt, and this is just going to give opportunities to those talents. I am sure it is going to be one of the big platforms for a lot of young tribal boys and girls to come and participate, and for those who want to represent the country in the coming years," he said.

Bhutia, Mary Kom Stress on Grassroots Development

Earlier, six-time World Championship medallist Mary Kom and former India football captain Bhutia underlined the importance of grassroots investment and structured development pathways while addressing reporters at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026. For creating future champions, both the legendary sportspersons maintained that Indian families need to discourage children from indulging in more screen time and rather send them to playgrounds to experience various sports.

'Investing in Grassroots is the Need': Bhutia

Bhutia, one of Indian football's most iconic figures, stressed that while initiatives like Khelo India Tribal Games (KIBG) are a strong starting point, long-term success hinges on strengthening the foundation of sport in the country. Reflecting on his own journey, he pointed to the role played by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in nurturing young athletes at a time when sporting infrastructure was still evolving. "I have been a SAI product, the first batch of SAI products in 1986. Investing in the grassroots level is the need, but we tend to overlook that and only focus on the top level," Bhutia said, emphasising the need for sustained attention at the base of the sporting pyramid.

He pointed out that talent exists in abundance, particularly in tribal regions, but requires the right ecosystem to flourish. "Tribal communities naturally have immense sporting talent, and we have seen this very clearly, particularly from the Northeast, where so many athletes have represented India brilliantly and brought us to the world stage. Giving young people a platform is very important. I feel that in the future, many more people from tribal communities will come through, and this is just the beginning in the years to come, we will see a lot more talent emerging from tribal backgrounds," he said.

'Football Was the Culture in Sikkim'

Bhutia also reflected on how environment and access play a defining role in shaping athletes, recalling his own early days. "See, when I talk about where I come from, I always say this everywhere, when you are from the Northeast, you do two things: football or music. That was my environment. Growing up, no other sport was played by the other kids around me. Football was the culture in Sikkim, in every village, every town."

Mary Kom Hails Transformative Initiative

Echoing his views, Mary Kom praised the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) as a transformative initiative that can bridge long-standing gaps in access and awareness. "First of all, I want to congratulate the Chhattisgarh Government. The Khelo India Tribal Games began here in Chhattisgarh, and I'm very happy about it. I was invited to support this initiative, and I do so wholeheartedly because our tribal communities have enormous potential. In earlier times, they didn't get platforms like this, and there wasn't enough awareness either. That's perhaps why many talented children couldn't advance further," the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist boxer said.

The star boxer from Manipur also highlighted how government-backed programmes have begun to change the landscape. "But today, thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's Khelo India and Fit India programmes, children are slowly taking the initiative, participating, and representing the country. This is a tremendous thing for India's sporting future," she said. (ANI)

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