Jharkhand wrestler Poonam Oraon won gold in the women's 50kg event at the first Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. She fought through strong shoulder pain in every bout to claim her first national-level gold and end a long wait.
The 19-year-old had a long-term shoulder issue, first dislocated at age 10. The pain flared up again before the final. She heavily strapped her left shoulder, yet still stepped on the mat. Poonam then defeated Telangana wrestler K Geetha in the title clash.
Shoulder trouble and refusal to quit
Each time Poonam went for a tackle in the final, she winced. The shoulder, hurt first in childhood, kept troubling her over the years. She told SAI Media she never thought of quitting wrestling, even as the injury kept returning across seasons.
"How could I give up? Nine years ago, my shoulder got dislocated. It recovered in between, but it keeps hurting. If I have not given up in so many years, then how could I have given up now?" Poonam told SAI Media.
"Since the beginning of my career, I have been struggling with injuries, but I never gave up. Winning a gold medal feels like a dream come true. This injury is nothing compared to the pain of not winning gold for nine years," she added.
From Suiyabar village to national gold
Poonam comes from Suiyabar village in Jharkhand's Chatra district. She took up wrestling in 2017. Soon after, she again dislocated her shoulder and stayed away from the mat for almost one year before returning to national school competitions.
After her return, she won bronze medals at the School Games Federation of India national meet in 2018 and 2019. Yet the gold medal stayed out of reach. The title, therefore, ended a six-year wait for a top podium.
Poonam said she was not fully fit before this event. Her family advised against competing. Her coach and support staff pushed her to enter. "With their support, I was able to compete and win gold," the Ranchi-based wrestler said.
"Winning a medal after six years is very special for me, and it is because of my strong will," she said. She now trains and lives in Ranchi. She is studying a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Ranchi University while continuing to wrestle.
Poonam aims to break into the Jharkhand team for Junior Nationals. "My next target is to qualify for the Junior Nationals, and I want to continue this golden run in events I compete in," she said about her short-term competition plans.
Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 overview
The Khelo India Tribal Games are part of the Government of India's Khelo India initiative. The event targets athletes from tribal communities. It focuses on competition and also respect for local sporting traditions. More details are available on the KITG 26 website.
The inaugural edition is being hosted by Chhattisgarh from March 25 to April 3, 2026. Events are spread across Raipur, Jagdalpur and Ambikapur. The sports list includes seven full medal events and two demonstration disciplines during the multi-city competition window.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Host state | Chhattisgarh |
| Edition | First Khelo India Tribal Games |
| Dates | March 25 to April 3, 2026 |
| Venues | Raipur, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur |
| Competitive sports | Archery, Athletics, Football, Hockey, Swimming, Weightlifting, Wrestling |
| Demonstration sports | Mallakhamb, Kabaddi |
