Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 to feature kabaddi in Raipur from March 25
A new stage for kabaddi
The event will run until early April across three cities in Chhattisgarh: Raipur, Jagdalpur and Surguja. Around 2,300 athletes are expected to take part in nine sports, seven of which are competitive disciplines like archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling. Kabaddi and mallakhamb have been included as demonstration sports.
Kabaddi's inclusion as a demonstration discipline matters because the Tribal Games are designed to uncover talent from communities that rarely get access to national-level platforms. India's kabaddi pipeline runs deep in rural and semi-urban areas, but scouting networks rarely extend into tribal regions. Events like this could change that.
Timing adds extra buzz
The Tribal Games arrive just one day after World Kabaddi Day on March 24, which carries the theme "Stronger Together, Kabaddi Forever" this year. The 5th Senior Federation Kabaddi Cup also wrapped up in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, on March 22, with Indian Railways beating Haryana 34-24 in the women's final. Kabaddi has had a busy March.
The bigger picture is that kabaddi's grassroots calendar is filling up fast. Between the Federation Cup, the Khelo India programme and the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League Season 13 auction, there is more activity around the sport in early 2026 than in any recent year.
What it means for the pipeline
Former India footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, who himself belongs to a tribal community, said the Tribal Games are "very important as it supports, nurtures, and provides a platform to the natural talent." He pointed out that many sportspeople from the North-East come from tribal backgrounds and have excelled when given the right opportunities.
With roughly 3,700 participants including coaches and officials descending on Chhattisgarh, the first Khelo India Tribal Games is a serious investment in grassroots sport. For kabaddi, the demonstration format gives organisers a chance to test logistics and fan interest before potentially upgrading it to a full competitive sport at future editions. The hope is that a name or two emerges from Raipur who ends up on a Pro Kabaddi team in a couple of years.
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