Faridkot, May 3: Rupnagar secured the overall trophy at the 12th Punjab State Gatka Championship for girls following a series of intense matchups at the Gurukul Group of Institutes in Kotkapura. The competition, which ended Sunday, saw Fazilka take the runner-up spot while Gurdaspur and Fatehgarh Sahib shared the third-place position.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan attended the closing ceremony and inaugurated the final round. During his address to the participants, the Speaker noted that the practice of Gatka serves as a path toward a lifestyle defined by discipline and spiritual strength. He maintained that those who practice the traditional martial art remain dedicated to moral values and healthy living.
“Young players should remain connected with their faith and uphold the virtues of a Gursikh life,” Sandhwan affirmed. He also recognized the work of the National Gatka Association of India in establishing a structured competitive framework for the sport across the country.
Individual excellence was recognized across several categories during the prize distribution. Pavneet Kaur of Rupnagar earned the Best Player title, and her teammate Ishpreet Kaur was named the Best Gatka Stick Player. From Gurdaspur, Japneet Kaur was declared the Most Promising Player, while Fazilka’s Gursimran Kaur received the Best Junior Gatkabaz award. Other honors included Anukirat Kaur of Ludhiana as Best Farri Stick Player and Sehaj Kaur of Fatehgarh Sahib as the Best Sub-Junior Star.
National Gatka Association of India President Harjeet Singh Grewal stated that organized efforts are moving forward to bring Gatka into the international sporting arena. He asserted that structured planning is currently underway to expand the global presence of the sport.
The event, which featured more than 250 athletes from 11 districts, was managed by a technical team including chief referee Talwinder Singh and coordinator Narinder Pal Singh. District Gatka Association President Dr. Manjit Singh Dhillon announced that his institutions would provide free education to winning players to support their academic and athletic growth.
