Bengal has etched its name in the history books by winning the gold medal in the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Sports football tournament. In a thrilling final held at the Swami Vivekananda Stadium in Raipur, Bengal defeated host Chhattisgarh 1-0. The winning strike came from the clinical boot of Chaku Mandi, who successfully converted a penalty just before the end of the first half, silencing the home crowd.

Under the guidance of veteran coach Ranjan Bhattacharya, Bengal dominated the tournament, which featured nearly 3,000 athletes from 30 states. After crushing Goa 5-2 in the semi-finals, expectations were sky-high. Although Vijay Murmu missed an early penalty in the 12th minute of the final, Bengal’s defense remained rock-solid against Chhattisgarh’s relentless counter-attacks. An emotional Coach Bhattacharya dedicated the win to his players’ discipline and resilience, marking a historic milestone for tribal sports in India.