Chandigarh, October 5: The National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), affiliated with the World Gatka Federation and the Asian Gatka Federation, will host the 13th National Gatka (Men and Women) Championship from October 10 to 12 at Guru Nanak English Senior Secondary School, Bhilai, in Durg district of Chhattisgarh.
Organised in association with the New Gatka Sports Association Chhattisgarh, the three-day national-level martial arts event will feature Gatka teams from across the country competing in individual and team events in Soti and Farri-Soti categories.
Harjeet Singh Grewal, State Awardee and president of NGAI, said the championship aims to preserve, promote, and professionalize the traditional Sikh martial art while giving emerging athletes a national platform.
“This championship is part of our long-term ‘Vision Document–2030’ to elevate Gatka from a traditional martial art to an internationally recognized sport. Our aim is to make it Olympic-ready by enhancing technical standards, ensuring gender equality through mixed combat events, and adopting IT-based tournament management systems,” Grewal said.
NGAI acting president Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, general secretary Harjinder Kumar, and finance secretary Baljit Singh Saini noted that the event reflects the growing enthusiasm for Gatka across India. “We are committed to providing our youth with safe, competitive platforms to celebrate our heritage. This championship is a testament to Gatka’s rising popularity and our association’s efforts to promote it nationally and globally,” they said in a joint statement.
Gatka promoter Grewal added that the opening ceremony will be held on October 10, while the concluding function on October 12 will honour top-performing athletes with medals, trophies, and certificates. The NGAI has invited sports enthusiasts, cultural patrons, and the general public to witness the “electrifying bouts” and cheer for India’s Gatka warriors in this historic tournament.
