Odisha’s Anjali Munda claims another swimming gold; Assam’s Monikha Sonowal and Mizoram’s Isak Malsawmtluanga secure weightlifting titles despite injuries
TFP Bureau, Raipur, March 26,2026: Swimmers and weightlifters delivered remarkable performances on the second day of the ongoing Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, with Karnataka’s rising swimmer Manikanta L completing a golden hat-trick and Odisha’s Anjali Munda clinching another gold medal in the swimming arena.
The prestigious national sporting event is being hosted in Raipur and other venues in the state, drawing participation from thousands of athletes representing tribal communities across India.
Karnataka’s Manikanta L continued his dominance in the swimming pool by winning the gold medal in the men’s 200m individual medley, clocking an impressive time of 2:25.93 seconds. The victory marked his third consecutive gold medal of the tournament, completing a remarkable hat-trick after earlier triumphs in the 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly events.
In the same race, Riaz Tripura secured the silver medal with a timing of 2:34.04 seconds, while Odisha’s Kanhu Soren finished third to claim the bronze medal with a time of 2:36.21 seconds.
The women’s 200m individual medley also witnessed an exciting contest, with Anjali Munda delivering a strong performance to win the gold medal in 2:53.82 seconds. Representing the host state, Anushka Bhagat secured the silver medal after finishing the race in 2:59.33 seconds, marking her second medal in the competition. Odisha’s Anjali Malik claimed the bronze medal with a timing of 3:06.13 seconds.
The impressive performances have also influenced the overall medal standings, with Karnataka currently leading the medal tally with six gold and two silver medals. Odisha follows in second place with three gold, one silver and four bronze medals.
Weightlifting competitions on Thursday also produced inspiring moments as athletes battled injuries to secure top honours. Assam’s Monikha Sonowal displayed remarkable determination to win the gold medal in the women’s 48 kg category despite carrying a knee injury. She lifted a combined total of 132 kg, including 57 kg in the snatch and 75 kg in the clean and jerk.
Odisha’s Deepa Rani Malik secured the silver medal with a total lift of 120 kg, while Alaska Alina claimed the bronze medal with a lift of 115 kg.
Nineteen-year-old Monikha Sonowal, who hails from the Dhemaji district of Assam, revealed that she had suffered a knee injury during training nearly three months ago and her coach had initially considered withdrawing her from the competition. However, she decided to participate, stating that the event was an important opportunity to establish herself at the national level.
In the men’s weightlifting category, Mizoram’s Isak Malsawmtluanga also displayed remarkable resilience by winning gold despite struggling with a back injury. After finishing second in the snatch with a lift of 108 kg, he staged a strong comeback in the clean and jerk event, lifting 130 kg to secure a combined total of 235 kg and claim the top podium position.
Jharkhand’s Babulal Hembrom won the silver medal with a total lift of 230 kg, while Odisha’s Subrata Naik secured bronze with a total of 228 kg.
The inaugural edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 has attracted participation from athletes representing 30 states and Union Territories, with nearly 3,800 players competing across nine sports disciplines. A total of 106 gold medals are up for grabs in events including archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling, while traditional sports such as mallakhamb and kabaddi are being showcased as demonstration events.
The games, which aim to promote sporting talent among tribal communities and provide a national platform for emerging athletes, will continue until April 3 at venues across Chhattisgarh.
