Tirkey, Kujur back Khelo India Tribal Games initiative

Chhattisgarh is set to host the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games beginning Wednesday, with several Indian sporting icons hailing the initiative as a major opportunity for young athletes from tribal communities to pursue careers in sport.

Prominent Indian athletes, including hockey Olympians Dilip Tirkey and Salima Tete, along with leading sprinter Animesh Kujur, emphasised that the Games provide an important platform for emerging talent from tribal regions to follow in the footsteps of established sporting icons.

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The tournament will feature participation from 30 states and Union Territories and include nine sporting disciplines. Medals will be awarded in archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling, while traditional sports such as Mallakhamb and Kabaddi will be showcased as demonstration events.

Around 3,800 athletes are expected to take part in the Games, which will conclude on April 3. Competitions will be held across three cities — Raipur, Jagdalpur and Ambikapur.

“For me and for all of us, it is a matter of great pride that this championship is being started in the country for the first time. It is a very good opportunity for all the youth and tribal players to showcase their talent and move forward in sports, and to play for the country. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to make India a sporting nation. He wants all youth to be connected with sports and to play one game or another,” said Hockey India president and former Olympian Dilip Tirkey.

The host state Chhattisgarh, along with Odisha, Jharkhand and Assam, will field the largest contingents, each with more than 100 athletes. The Games will maintain a near 50:50 participation ratio between male and female athletes, in line with the gender equality principles outlined in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) charter.

A total of 106 gold medals will be up for grabs during the competition. Athletics will feature the highest number of gold medals with 34 events, followed by swimming (24), wrestling (18), weightlifting (16) and archery (10). Hockey and football will be the two team sports and will be staged in Raipur, while athletics events will take place in Jagdalpur and wrestling competitions will be held in Ambikapur.

“Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also wants that through sports, our athletes, especially tribal athletes, can build better careers, improve their lives, and represent the country. I also firmly believe that every tribal child has a dream. I myself come from a tribal family, and through sports, through hockey, I have been able to reach where I am today. I believe that all the tribal children participating in this tournament have a bright future ahead. Even earlier, many tribal athletes have represented the country and have become icons in our tribal society,” said Tirkey.

National 100m and 200m record holder Animesh Kujur also welcomed the initiative. “There are many places in India where sports haven’t reached. This makes the Khelo India Tribal Games all the more special. I honour the efforts of the government on taking this initiative of bringing together young sports enthusiasts from tribal regions across all States and UTs at the Chhattisgarh Games,” Kujur said.

All athletes competing in the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) qualified through trials conducted by their respective national sports federations. Their performances during the tournament will be closely monitored by SAI coaches.