Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk
The 9th edition of the State-Level Tribal Sports Festival will be organised from January 9 to 11, 2026, at Adarsh Gram, Amone, in Canacona. The festival is being conducted as part of the Government of India’s special policy for the upliftment of the Scheduled Tribes community under the Tribal Sub-Plan, with a strong focus on promoting sports and physical activity among tribal youth.
The event is being organised by the Sports Authority of Goa in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, continuing an initiative that has been in place since 2011. Over the years, the Tribal Sports Festival has evolved into a significant platform for identifying and nurturing sporting talent within tribal communities across the state.
Previous editions of the festival have featured sports such as Volleyball, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Tennis Ball Cricket, Tug-of-War, Langadi, Lagori, Vithu Dandu and other traditional games, conducted under the technical guidance of respective State Sports Associations. The details of the upcoming festival were announced by Sports Minister Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar in the presence of Dr. Ajay Gaude, Director of DSYA and Executive Director of SAG, along with Dr. Vivek Pawar, Deputy Director, DSYA.
Each edition of the festival has seen participation from over 1,200 athletes representing all 12 talukas, supported by nearly 200 technical officials and sports teachers. The participation of both men and women has steadily increased over the years, highlighting the immense sporting potential present within Goa’s tribal population.
For the 2026 edition, around 1,648 players along with 240 officials and support staff are expected to take part. Competitions in Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Volleyball and Tennis Ball Cricket will be held in both men’s and women’s categories, while traditional sports such as Tug-of-War, Langdi and Lagori will be played at the Canacona taluka level. Winners in major disciplines will receive cash prizes along with trophies and certificates, with first place awarded Rs. 25,000, second place Rs. 20,000 and third place Rs. 15,000.
Selection trials for taluka teams were conducted on December 28, 2025, across various venues under the supervision of APEOs, TSOs, DSYA, SAG coaches and sports associations. Adding to the scale of the event, an All India Marathon Race will also be organised during the festival, with participation expected to exceed 1,000 runners.
