Manisha juava siddi

Khelo India Tribal Games: The saying ‘talent needs no introduction’ found a fitting example at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, where wrestlers from Karnataka’s Siddi community have made a powerful statement on the mat. Their success is no longer just about medals—it reflects the emergence of an entire community as a force in wrestling. Of African descent, there are about 50,000 Siddis in India of which one-third live in Karnataka.

Out of the nine wrestlers representing Karnataka at KITG 2026, four belonged to the Siddi community. Three of them clinched gold while one secured silver. The gold medallists include Manisha Juava Siddi (76 kg), Rohan M. Doddamani (Greco-Roman 60 kg) and Princita Pedru Fernandes Siddi (68 kg), while Shalina Sayer Siddi (57 kg) settled for silver.

Their achievements highlight not only personal grit and perseverance but also the growing dominance of the Siddi community in wrestling. All four wrestlers had topped the trials held at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium, underlining their consistency and potential.