Jharkhand Wrestler Poonam Oraon Clinches Gold at Khelo India Tribal Games Despite Injury

• Jharkhand wrestler Poonam Oraon won a gold medal at the first Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in the women’s 50kg category.
• Poonam battled through a dislocated shoulder, an injury sustained at age 10, which flared up again before the final bout.
• She defeated Telangana’s K Geetha to secure her first national-level gold after a nine-year wait.
• Despite family concerns, Poonam competed with the support of her coach and staff, ending a six-year medal drought.
• Poonam, a Political Science student at Ranchi University, aims to qualify for the Junior Nationals next.