The traditional martial art of Punjab, Gatka is poised to get a significant boost nationwide as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has officially included this sport in the 37th National Games 2023, scheduled to be held in Goa in October, the game promoters said on Monday.
Gatka as a modern sporting discipline is a standardised style of stick fighting between two or more opponents.
During the National Games, the IOA, in collaboration with the government of Goa, would organise competitions for 43 disciplines.
Elated over the development, Harjeet Singh Grewal, the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI) President, expressed his gratitude to the IOA President P.T. Usha as well as the Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) Chairman, Amitabh Sharma, member Bhupiner Singh Bajwa and others, for including the martial art Gatka in the national games for the first time.
Grewal told IANS: "We have long yearned for due recognition of this game by the IOA. Recently, a high-level meeting was held with IOA and GTCC office-bearers in New Delhi to acknowledge this game and include it in the upcoming national games."
He said although the NGAI has been promoting this sport through its affiliated state associations in 22 states, this decision would certainly prove to be a significant step in the overall development of Gatka across the country.
He said preparations are underway for participation in the national games.
India gave wings to their ferocious ambition of winning a maiden series Down Under, beating Australia by 31 runs in the opening Test with an irresistible fusion of self-belief, hunger and talent here on Monday.
An impressive India thrashed Canada 5-1 to top Pool C and seal a direct berth in the quarterfinals of the men's hockey World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.
Veteran Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, who played a pivotal role in India’s two World Cup triumphs, on Tuesday announced retirement from cricket, saying the “irritable noise of ‘It’s over Gauti’” has triumphed over his will to continue.
For a country thats as cricket-crazy as India is, its amazing (read "really really unfortunate"), that the womens game, up until very recently, has got such little attention.
Veteran Indian stars M.C. Mary Kom and Laishram Sarita Devi will spearhead the Indian campaign when the women's World Boxing Championships start here on Thursday.
