Khelo India Tribal Games Day 6: Nedi Ngi, Govind Padekar Strike 5000m Gold as Rain Disrupts Athletics

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Raipur, March 30: Day 6 of the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) 2026 saw athletics finally take centre stage, with Nedi Ngi of Arunachal Pradesh and Govind Padekar of Maharashtra clinching gold medals in the women's and men's 5000m races respectively, before unseasonal rains forced the cancellation of the evening session in Jagdalpur.

Arunachal Pradesh's Nedi Ngi produced a composed and tactical run to win the women's 5000m gold. Holding back for most of the race, she unleashed a powerful sprint in the final 200m to clock 18:24.66s and seal victory.

Nedi Ngi's Tactical Brilliance Lights Up Athletics Debut

"I am making a comeback after focusing on academics and I am extremely happy that I could win the gold medal here. Now I want to get into the national camp and represent India," Ngi said.

Her victory strengthened Arunachal Pradesh's position in the medal standings, taking them to six gold medals overall.

Maharashtra Dominate Men's 5000m

Maharashtra delivered a dominant performance in the men's 5000m, securing a 1-2 finish:

• Gold - Govind Padekar (15:11.35s)
• Silver - Suraj Mashi (15:11.64s)

The duo paced their race perfectly to stay ahead of the field, with Madhya Pradesh's Ranglal Dodiyar settling for bronze.

Rain Halts Athletics Evening Session

The athletics programme faced disruption as unseasonal rain in Jagdalpur forced organisers to cancel the evening session, delaying several scheduled events on the opening day of track and field competitions.

Karnataka Extend Lead with Wrestling Golds

Karnataka continued to dominate the overall standings, extending their tally to 17 gold medals with two wrestling titles:

• Rohan Doddamani - Men's 60kg Greco Roman
• Manisha Siddi - Women's 76kg

Rohan's victory was particularly significant as it marked Karnataka's first gold outside swimming, underlining their growing presence in multiple disciplines.

Bihar, J&K Add Key Wrestling Golds

Day 6 also saw new states making their mark:

• Mulayam Kharwar clinched Bihar's first gold medal in men's 65kg freestyle
• Hamam Hussain won gold for Jammu & Kashmir in men's 97kg freestyle

These wins further diversified the medal spread across states.

Hockey: Odisha Set Up Final Clash with Mizoram

In women's hockey, Odisha stormed into the final with a dominant 8-0 win over Madhya Pradesh, while Mizoram edged past Jharkhand 3-2 in a closely fought semi-final.

The two teams will now face off for gold in what promises to be an exciting final.

Medal Tally After Day 6

1. Karnataka - 17 gold (leaders)
2. Odisha - 9 gold (second)
3. Arunachal Pradesh - 6 gold (third)

Karnataka's lead continues to grow, but the emergence of states like Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar is adding depth to the competition.

KITG Continues to Showcase Emerging Talent

With athletics now underway alongside wrestling and hockey reaching decisive stages, the Khelo India Tribal Games are entering a crucial phase.

The Games, featuring 3,800 athletes from 30 states and UTs across nine sports, continue to serve as a key platform for identifying and nurturing talent from India's tribal regions.

Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 Day 6 - Complete Results