The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games in Raipur has emerged as a breakthrough platform for athletes from remote communities, with several competitors drawing attention through strong performances and medal hauls. The event, the first edition of its kind, is the seventh Khelo India competition after the Youth Games, University Games, Para Games, Winter Games, Beach Games and the Water Sports Festival, and has highlighted both talent and the need for broader access to sport across the country.
Mayank Srivastava, deputy director general of the Khelo India Division at the Sports Authority of India, told TOI that the government plans to expand the Khelo India calendar further. “Earlier, we used to conduct six games. Now, the sports minister has suggested that sports should reach areas that were geographically less accessible to athletes. We will thus soon start the Northeast Games as well,” he said, adding that sports must reach communities that have found it difficult to enter the mainstream sporting arena.
Athletes from the Northeast have been particularly prominent in Raipur. In weightlifting, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram each won eight medals and Assam secured nine. Assam’s swimmers have also performed well, collectively winning nine medals. Competitors hope these performances will attract talent scouts and open doors to advanced training and national programmes.
To channel such talent, Srivastava outlined the Khelo India Talent Identification and Development vertical. Once promising athletes are identified, they undergo a basic assessment; successful candidates are admitted to the National Centres of Excellence run by the Sports Authority of India, where they train under qualified coaches and receive a monthly stipend.
Officials acknowledge, however, that results from the Tribal Games are not yet ratified by international federations. “The beginning has been made, and we will create an orderly structure. Soon, you will see a competitive level emerge,” Srivastava said, noting that international sporting bodies consider many factors before recognizing competitions and accepting results for official records.
While international recognition remains a long-term goal, Srivastava emphasized that it will not be the immediate priority. The current focus is grassroots development: establishing basics, providing exposure, and creating clear pathways and opportunities so athletes from underserved regions can progress within the national sporting system.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/we-will-soon-start-the-northeast-games/articleshow/129900264.cms
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Publish Date: 2026-03-30 17:35:00
