Khelo India Tribal Games (Sixth Day Roundup): Nedi Ngi of Arunachal, Govind Padekar of Maharashtra Win Gold in 5000 Meters

Khelo India Tribal Games (Sixth Day Roundup)
Evening session of athletics canceled in Jagdalpur due to unseasonal rain

With two golds in wrestling, Karnataka strengthened lead in medal tally with 17 golds

Wrestler Mulayam Kharwar opened Bihar’s account by winning men’s 65 kg freestyle

Nedi Ngi of Arunachal, Govind Padekar of Maharashtra Win Gold in 5000 Meters

Raipur, March 2026 : Middle-distance runner Nedi Ngi of Arunachal Pradesh won gold in women’s 5000-meter race, while Maharashtra achieved a brilliant 1–2 in the men’s category. Meanwhile, due to unseasonal rain, the evening session of athletics on the sixth day of Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 on Monday had to be canceled. Nedi Ngi maintained composure in most of the race and with a strong sprint in the final 200 meters, won gold in 18:24.66 seconds. In men’s 5000-meter race, Maharashtra’s Govind Padekar (15:11.35 seconds) and Suraj Mashi (15:11.64 seconds) ran in perfect coordination to win gold and silver respectively.

After the race, Nedi Ngi told SAI Media, “I am returning after focusing on academies and am very happy to win gold here. Now that my graduation is complete, I want to focus on making it to the national camp and later being selected for the Indian team in major international competitions.”

With Nedi Ngi’s gold medal, Arunachal Pradesh strengthened its third position in the medal tally, now holding six golds, one silver, and two bronzes.

With two golds in wrestling at Ambikapur, Karnataka further strengthened its lead in the table. Rohan Doddamani gave Karnataka its first gold outside the swimming pool by defeating Rajasthan’s Dinesh Solanki in 60 kg Greco-Roman final on technical superiority.

Afterwards, Manisha concluded the day by defeating Himachal Pradesh’s Muskan 12–8 in a tough contest, winning another gold for Karnataka. Karnataka now has a total of 17 golds, six silvers, and five bronzes. Odisha remains in second place with nine golds, four silvers, and ten bronzes.

Meanwhile, Mulayam Kharwar defeated Rajasthan’s Rakesh Meena in a one-sided men’s 65 kg freestyle final to give Bihar the day’s first gold. Karnataka’s KV Kemppannavar won bronze in this category.

At Raipur’s International Hockey Stadium, favorite team Odisha made it to the final to face Mizoram. In semifinals, Odisha defeated Madhya Pradesh 8–0, while Mizoram beat Jharkhand 3–2.

Results

Athletics
Women
5000 meters: Gold – Nedi Ngi (Arunachal Pradesh) 18:24.66 sec; Silver – Aarti Dawar (Madhya Pradesh) 18:29.28 sec; Bronze – Tsuchoi T (Nagaland) 18:35.60 sec

Men
5000 meters: Gold – Govind Padekar (Maharashtra) 15:11.35 sec; Silver – Suraj Mashi (Maharashtra) 15:11.64 sec; Bronze – Rangalal Dodiyar (Madhya Pradesh) 15:22.48 sec

Hockey (Semifinal)
Women: Mizoram beat Jharkhand 3–2; Odisha beat Madhya Pradesh 8–0

Wrestling

Women
53 kg: Gold – Neha Uraon (Jharkhand); Silver – Preetima Khakhlari (Assam); Bronze – Mainari Khakhlari (Assam), Lalvenhimi (Mizoram)
76 kg: Gold – Manisha Siddhi (Karnataka); Silver – Muskan (Himachal Pradesh); Bronze – Lalhamanghaihsangi (Mizoram)

Men
65 kg Freestyle: Gold – Mulayam Kharwar (Bihar); Silver – Rakesh Meena (Rajasthan); Bronze – KV Kemppannavar (Karnataka)
97 kg Freestyle: Gold – Hamam Hussain (Jammu & Kashmir); Silver – Mohit Kumar (Himachal Pradesh); Bronze – Mohammad Wasim Chaudhary (Jammu & Kashmir)
60 kg Greco-Roman: Gold – Rohan Doddamani (Karnataka); Silver – Dinesh Solanki (Rajasthan); Bronze – Juh Pa Yu Juh Nongtdu (Meghalaya)
87 kg Greco-Roman: Gold – Piyush Gujar (Himachal Pradesh); Silver – Riaz Hussain (Jammu & Kashmir); Bronze – Tek Chand (Himachal Pradesh)