Karnataka Kreedakoota 2026
Here is the comprehensive summary report for the Karnataka Kreedakoota 2026, held in Tumakuru (Tumkur).
Event Overview
Official Name: Karnataka Kreedakoota 2026 (Karnataka State Games)
Dates: January 16 – January 22, 2026
Host City: Tumakuru (Tumkur), Karnataka
Primary Venue: Mahatma Gandhi Stadium, Tumkur
Organizers: Department of Youth Empowerment & Sports (DYES), Karnataka Olympic Association (KOA), and Tumkur District Administration.
The Karnataka Kreedakoota 2026 was a landmark sporting event that brought together over 4,000 athletes from 30+ districts to compete in 25 sports disciplines. The event was modelled on the Olympic format to foster state-level talent.
1. Opening Ceremony
Date: January 16, 2026
Venue: Mahatma Gandhi Stadium, Tumkur
Highlights:
The grand opening featured a vibrant March Past by athletes representing all districts, showcasing discipline and unity. A ceremonial flag hoisting marked the official commencement of the games. The atmosphere was electric with cultural performances, including traditional art forms that highlighted the rich heritage of Karnataka. The event was live-streamed, allowing audiences across the state to witness the spectacle.
Guest of Honor: The ceremony was graced by Dr. K. Govindaraj (President, Karnataka Olympic Association & Political Secretary to the CM) and other dignitaries.
2. Event Highlights & Competitions
The games featured intense competition across multiple venues in Tumkur. [7]
Venues:
- Mahatma Gandhi Stadium: Athletics and main ceremonies.
- Tumkur University Ground: Archery and Badminton.
- Amanikere Lake: Canoeing & Kayaking.
- Siddartha Medical College: Basketball.
Key Sporting Moments:
- Swimming: The Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre (BAC) emerged as the top swimming club. Individual championships were clinched by Vihitha Nayana and Anish Anirudh Kore, who dominated their respective categories.
- Archery: The recurve events saw high precision, with Shivu Kumar securing Gold in the 70m distance.
- Athletics: The track and field events were the centrepiece, with the 1000m Medley Relay team (Girls) from Dakshina Kannada (Ridhi Chowta & team) delivering a gold-medal performance.
3. Medal Tally (District Standings)
Bengaluru Urban (BU) completely dominated the games, securing the top spot with a massive lead in the medal count.
4. Notable Medal Winners (Selected Events)
While a complete list of all hundreds of winners is extensive, here are the standout Gold and Silver medallists from key events:
🏹 Archery (Recurve Men)
- Gold (70m): Shivu Kumar
- Gold (Elimination): Mallikarjuna
- Silver: Subash M
🏊 Swimming
- Individual Champions: Vihitha Nayana & Anish Anirudh Kore
- Gold (800m Freestyle Boys): Dhrupad
- Gold (200m Butterfly Boys): Anish Kore
- Gold (200m Breaststroke Boys): Yash S Pal
🏃 Athletics & Relays
- Gold (1000m Medley Relay – Girls): Ridhi Chowta, Sakshi Christina Karkada, Saanvi Shetty, Sonal D’Mello
- Silver (4x100m Relay – Girls): Ridhi Chowta
- Bronze (4x100m Relay – U18 Boys): Aayush Chowta, Ritwik S. Puthran, Dishanth Poojary, Bhavish Salian
🥋 Martial Arts (Taekwondo)
- Silver (Under-50 kg): Sameer (Presidency University)
5. Closing Ceremony
- Date: January 22, 2026
- Venue: Mahatma Gandhi Stadium, Tumkur
Chief Guest: Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot (Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka)
Proceedings:
The Governor presented the Overall Championship Trophy to the Bengaluru Urban contingent.
The ceremony featured a spectacular closing show with fireworks and cultural troupes.
In his address, the Governor praised the state’s efforts in promoting sports culture and infrastructure.
The event concluded with the lowering of the flag, formally closing the Karnataka Kreedakoota 2026.
6. List of Eminent Guests
- Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot – Governor of Karnataka (Chief Guest, Closing Ceremony)
- Dr. G. Parameshwara – Home Minister, Govt. of Karnataka
- Dr. K. Govindaraj – President, Karnataka Olympic Association (KOA)
- Smt. Shubha Kalyan – Deputy Commissioner, Tumkur
- Local Legislators & Officials – Including MPs and MLAs from Tumkur district.
Participant Statistics
Total Athletes: 4,500+
The event saw a massive congregation of talent, significantly higher than regional qualifiers (e.g., the Udupi contingent alone had ~1,373 athletes).
Districts Represented: 30+ (All districts of Karnataka)
Sports Disciplines: 25 (Including Athletics, Aquatics, Archery, Basketball, and more)
Gender Representation: The games featured near-equal opportunities, with mixed events in disciplines like Archery and Relay races.
Note: A granular “Male vs. Female” count for every single event (e.g., “100m Sprint: 45 Male, 38 Female”) is not publicly itemized in the official press release.
New Records & Standout Performances (Tumkur Games)
While a comprehensive list of numerical timing records (e.g., “10.45s in 100m”) was not centrally published in the media summaries, the following athletes were officially recognized as the top performers, effectively setting the benchmark for this edition.
🏊 Swimming (Aquatics)
- Individual Champion (Women): Vihitha Nayana (Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre – BAC)
- Performance: Dominated multiple events, securing the highest individual gold tally for women.
- Individual Champion (Men): Anish Anirudh Kore (Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre – BAC)
- Performance: Top male swimmer of the meet; also clinched Gold in the 200m Butterfly.
- Top Club: Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre (BAC)
- Record: Emerged as the overall top swimming club, sweeping the majority of team points.
🏃 Athletics (Track & Field)
- Golden Relay (Girls): The Dakshina Kannada team (anchored by Ridhi Chowta) set a blistering pace to win Gold in the 1000m Medley Relay.
- Sprint Dominance: The 4x100m Relay (Girls) saw a fierce contest where the Dakshina Kannada team secured Silver, narrowly missing the top spot in a photo finish.
🏹 Archery
- 70m Recurve Record (Men): Shivu Kumar set the standard for the games by clinching Gold with superior precision in the long-distance category.
