New Delhi / Chandigarh | June 12 — The 12th National Gatka Championship began today at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, with senior Supreme Court advocate and President of the Asian Gatka Federation, Dr. Tejinderpal Singh Nalwa, inaugurating the three-day event. The championship is being organized by the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI).
Addressing participants and dignitaries, Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of NGAI, called the inclusion of Gatka in major national sporting events a landmark moment for the traditional Sikh martial art. “Gatka’s entry into the National Games, Khelo India Youth Games, National School Games, and All India Inter-University Games is a major achievement. It opens the door for the sport’s inclusion in international competitions,” he said.
Grewal stressed Gatka’s dual role as both a competitive sport and a form of self-defence, and encouraged young athletes — boys and girls alike — to actively participate.
Dr. Nalwa, while congratulating NGAI for its efforts, praised the strides made in promoting the sport across India and abroad. “Under the World Gatka Federation’s guidance, the NGAI has taken historic steps to uplift Gatka. A structured roadmap is now in place to organize even bigger national-level tournaments,” he said.
He also announced that the 2nd Federation Gatka Cup will be held in December, and will feature teams from across Indian states.
The opening ceremony was attended by several dignitaries from across the country, including Baljit Singh Saini, Sarbjit Singh, and Yograj Singh from Punjab; Jaswant Singh from Chhattisgarh; Vishal Singh from Telangana; Pandurang Ambure from Maharashtra; Paramjit Singh from Madhya Pradesh; Prince Mishra from Jharkhand; Surinder Reddy from Andhra Pradesh; Sandeep Kumar from Tamil Nadu; and Gurmeet Singh Rana and Angad Singh from Delhi.
The championship continues over the next two days, with hundreds of athletes competing for top honours in one of India’s most culturally rooted martial arts.
