Raipur:
The ‘Khelo India Tribal Games Chhattisgarh-2026’ will be organised from March 25 to April 6, 2026, with the aim of promoting sports in the state and providing a national platform to talented athletes from tribal regions. The competitions will be held at sports venues in Raipur, Surguja district, and Bastar division.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reviewed the preparations for the event during a meeting of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department held at Mahanadi Bhawan in Naya Raipur.
The Chief Minister said that youth are the future of the nation and the state, and the government is committed to promoting them in education, employment, skill development, and sports. He said the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 would not only provide recognition to the talents of athletes from forest and tribal regions, but would also serve as a strong platform for them to reach the national level.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the Chhattisgarh Sports Promotion Scheme, approval and construction of sports infrastructure in the state, implementation of central Khelo India schemes, activities of sports academies, sports awards, youth festivals, and the department’s future action plan. He directed officials to ensure that large-scale and international-level sports infrastructure projects approved in previous years are completed within the stipulated time frame while maintaining quality standards.
Notably, the Government of India has entrusted Chhattisgarh with hosting the first Khelo India Tribal Games. A total of seven competitive sports and two demonstration events will be organised.
In Raipur, competitions will include archery, football, hockey, weightlifting, swimming, and kabaddi (demo). Surguja district will host wrestling and mallakhamb (demo), while Bastar division will host athletics events. Around 2,500 players and officials from nearly 30 states are expected to participate in the competition.
Reiterating the state government’s commitment to encouraging sports talent, the Chief Minister said players who perform exceptionally well in the games will be given incentive awards. Mallakhamb players will receive a special incentive of ₹1 lakh, and the state government will bear the travel expenses of mallakhamb athlete Antai Potai, who has been selected for America’s Got Talent, for his trip to the United States.
The Chief Minister also noted that the participation of more than 1.65 lakh youth in the Bastar Olympics demonstrates that Chhattisgarh is rapidly moving towards peace, development, and positive change after overcoming the shadow of Naxalism. He added that tribal regions possess immense sporting talent, and the state government is continuously working to identify and nurture these abilities.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said that in the coming years, Olympic-level sports events in the Bastar and Surguja regions will further strengthen the state’s identity at the national level.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary Rahul Bhagat, Public Works Department Secretary Kamalpreet Singh, Sports and Youth Welfare Secretary Yashwant Kumar, Director of Sports Tanuja Salam, and other officials.
