Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 4
Nagaland registered a strong showing at the 1st Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, securing a total of seven medals - two gold, two silver, and three bronze, across athletics and archery disciplines.
In athletics, Wede Tmero clinched the gold medal in the men’s 10,000m event, while Rüduolhounuo Belho secured silver in the women’s 100m.
Tsuchoi T added a bronze in the women’s 5,000m event.
Archery contributed the bulk of the medals, led by the women’s recurve team of Ruovinuo Theünuo, Vesevolu Swuro, and Kevikieno Rikha, which won gold. The women’s compound team comprising Rovine K Domeh, Vetavolu Rhakho, and Lotsülü Sazo secured silver.
Ruovinuo Theünuo emerged as the standout performer for Nagaland, featuring in three medal-winning events.
She won bronze in the women’s recurve individual event and was also part of the recurve mixed team with Keneisao Theünuo, which secured another bronze.
Overall, Nagaland recorded 12 finishers at the Games.
In the overall medal tally, Karnataka emerged as champions with 23 gold, 8 silver, and 7 bronze medals. Odisha finished second with 21 gold, 15 silver, and 21 bronze, while Jharkhand secured third place with 16 gold, 8 silver, and 11 bronze medals. Host state Chhattisgarh finished ninth with 3 gold, 10 silver, and 6 bronze medals.
The inaugural edition of the Games was hosted by the state of Chhattisgarh across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Ambikapur from March 25 to April 3. It is the first national multi-sport event under the Khelo India programme dedicated exclusively to tribal athletes, bringing participants from across 30 States and Union Territories onto a common competitive stage, as per the PIB.
As per an AIR News report, a total of 3,800 athletes from 30 states and Union Territories participated in seven disciplines archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, and wrestling — with Mallakhamb and kabaddi featured as demonstration sports.
