Karnataka Extends Lead on Day 8; Chhattisgarh Adds Silver and Bronze

Raipur, April 2026 : In athletics at Jagdalpur, Odisha won four gold medals and Jharkhand secured two gold medals.

Race walker Dasharath Talwar and middle-distance runner Nagini, with their gold medals, helped Karnataka further strengthen its lead on the eighth day of the Khelo India Tribal Games. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh’s Gajendra Thakur won a silver medal in the men’s 800 metres, and the men’s hockey team secured a bronze medal.

At the athletics track of the sports complex in Jagdalpur, Dasharath Talwar clocked 45:13.85 to give Karnataka a 1-2 finish in the men’s 10 km race walk. His teammate Darshan Bagadi (46:25.90) finished second, while Gujarat’s Sagarbhai Katara (48:16.09) came third.

Later, Nagini won the gold medal in the women’s 800 metres with a time of 2:13.80, taking Karnataka’s gold medal tally to 21. Karnataka has now won a total of 36 medals, including eight silver and seven bronze.

Chhattisgarh’s Gajendra Thakur secured the silver medal in the men’s 800 metres with a time of 1:53.82. Odisha’s Davanidhi Munda won gold in the event with a time of 1:53.33.

Expressing happiness over his performance, Thakur said he had started training in athletics only a year ago. He told SAI Media, “I had come to the SAI Training Centre in Bilaspur for kabaddi trials, but after seeing my fitness, the coaches advised me to take up track events. I am very happy to win my first national-level medal at home in the Khelo India Tribal Games.”

Earlier, Chhattisgarh’s men’s hockey team defeated neighbouring Madhya Pradesh 14-6 to win the bronze medal. With these two medals, Chhattisgarh’s total medal tally has reached two gold, eight silver, and five bronze, placing the team 10th overall.

With only one day of athletics competitions remaining, second-placed Odisha maintained its challenge by winning four gold medals on Wednesday. Odisha’s gold medal winners included Davanidhi Munda (men’s 800 metres), Roshan Khadia (men’s 400 metres hurdles), Deepa Kisan (women’s high jump), and Dhanmati Jass (women’s javelin throw).

Jharkhand also delivered a strong performance, winning two gold medals in the women’s 400 metres hurdles and 10 km race walk, further strengthening its third position in the medal tally. Jharkhand now has a total of 19 medals, including nine gold, three silver, and seven bronze.

Meanwhile, in football semifinals played at the Vivekananda Kota Stadium in Raipur, West Bengal defeated Goa 5-2 to enter the final, while Chhattisgarh beat Arunachal Pradesh 3-2 in a thrilling match to secure a place in the title clash.

Results

Athletics

Women’s Category

400 metres hurdles: Gold – Shivani Kumar (Jharkhand) 1:02.06 seconds; Silver – Aditya KM (Kerala) 1:04.60 seconds; Bronze – Basanti Majhi (Odisha) 1:05.89 seconds

800 metres: Gold – Nagini (Karnataka) 2:13.80 seconds; Silver – Purnima Sandil (Odisha) 2:15.88 seconds; Bronze – Shanti Bai (Madhya Pradesh) 2:19.11 seconds

10 km race walk: Gold – Neha Jaalxo (Jharkhand) 1:04:02.46; Silver – Alish Ekka (Odisha) 1:04:59.12; Bronze – Bethleen Makri (Meghalaya) 1:05:18.62

High jump: Gold – Deepa Kisan (Odisha) 1.45 metres; Silver – Kahima Basumatari (Assam) 1.45 metres; Bronze – Kavita Tadingi (Odisha) 1.43 metres

Javelin throw: Gold – Dhanmati Jass (Odisha) 44.79 metres; Silver – Sabita Murmu (Jharkhand) 43.12 metres; Bronze – Apiksha Gamit (Gujarat) 41.77 metres

Men’s Category

400 metres hurdles: Gold – Roshan Khadia (Odisha) 53.41 seconds; Silver – Dnyaneshwar Wali (Maharashtra) 54.02 seconds; Bronze – Manish Bedia (Jharkhand) 54.62 seconds

800 metres: Gold – Davanidhi Munda (Odisha) 1:53.33; Silver – Gajendra Thakur (Chhattisgarh) 1:53.82; Bronze – Rahul Oraon (Jharkhand) 1:54.32

10 km race walk: Gold – Dasharath Talwar (Karnataka) 45:13.85; Silver – Darshan Bagadi (Karnataka) 46:25.90; Bronze – Sagarbhai Katara (Gujarat) 48:16.09

Football

Men’s Semifinals: West Bengal defeated Goa 5-2; Chhattisgarh defeated Arunachal Pradesh 3-2.