Khelo India Tribal Games Day 4: Nikita Wins Historic Gold for Chhattisgarh; Odisha Women Dominate Final Day of Swimming

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Hosts Chhattisgarh finally struck gold at the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) 2026 as weightlifter Nikita delivered a commanding performance, while Odisha's women swimmers capped off the swimming competition with a clean sweep of gold medals on Day 4 in Raipur.

After several near misses, Chhattisgarh's wait for a gold medal ended in emphatic fashion as Nikita dominated the women's 77kg weightlifting category.

Nikita Ends Chhattisgarh's Gold Drought

The 20-year-old lifted a total of 160kg (70kg Snatch + 90kg Clean & Jerk), finishing a massive 34kg ahead of silver medallist Srimati Jani of Odisha.

"It is a special moment for me as this is my first gold medal in Khelo India. I was training for the whole year and I was confident once I entered the arena," Nikita said.

The gold sparked celebrations among local fans, who had seen their athletes win multiple silvers and bronzes before finally reaching the top of the podium.

Odisha Women Rule the Pool

Odisha's women swimmers dominated the final day of swimming, winning all three gold medals on offer:

• Ritika Minz - Women's 100m freestyle (1:12.93s)
• Anjali Munda - Women's 50m backstroke (36.37s)
• Odisha team - 4x100m medley relay

Anjali's victory was particularly significant as it took her overall tally to five gold medals, including four in individual events, making her one of the standout performers of the Games.

Assam Siblings Shine Together

A heartwarming moment came from Assam as siblings Nibir Nilim Krow and Violina Krow both made the podium.

• Nibir won gold in the men's 50m backstroke (31.31s)
• Violina clinched bronze in the women's 100m freestyle

Their simultaneous success added a unique family highlight to the day's action.

Karnataka Finish Swimming on Top

Karnataka signed off the swimming competition as the undisputed leaders:

• 15 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze medals in swimming
• Manikanta L emerged as the top performer with eight gold and one silver, while Dhoneesh N added five gold medals.

Arunachal Pradesh Surge in Weightlifting

Arunachal Pradesh made a strong push in the medal standings by winning both men's weightlifting gold medals:

• Ruba Tadu - Men's 88kg (274kg)
• Lalu Taku - Men's 94kg (250kg)

Their performances strengthened their bid for a top-three finish.

Medal Tally Snapshot After Day 4

• Karnataka - 15 gold (overall leaders)
• Odisha - 9 gold (second)
• Assam - 4 gold (third)
• Chhattisgarh - 1 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze (seventh)

Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 Day 4 - Complete Results

KITG 2026 Builds Momentum

With around 3,800 athletes from 30 states and UTs competing across nine disciplines, the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games continues to showcase emerging talent from across India's tribal regions.

Day 4 not only delivered historic moments for hosts Chhattisgarh but also underlined the growing competitiveness, with multiple states stepping up across disciplines.