ANANDPUR SAHIB—the International Sikh Martial Art Academy organized their first Hola Mohalla Virsa Sambhal Gatka tournament under the aegis of Gatka Federation of India (GFI) in which eight Gatka teams demonstrated their fighting skills.
After inaugurating the traditional martial art competition, Dr Deep Singh Joint Secretary GFI, and Giani Ranjit Singh a patron of the Punjab Gatka Association, announced that the Federation would organize a national level Gatka tournament every year on Hola Mohalla. Their aim is to channel youth’s energy towards the self-defense sport, and wean them away from the menace of drug abuse, and other intoxicants, so as to enable them to become healthy, and agile.
He added that the Gatka Federation has taken major initiatives to revive, and promote, the rare art of gatka as a sport in India, and abroad. By organizing Virsa Sambhal Gatka competitions to perpetuate the rich legacy of age-old martial art Gatka amongst future generations, they hope to revive the dying art. The Punjab Government has been solicited to award due gradation to the Gatka sport on a par with other games as soon as possible.
The martial art of Gatka is a style of fighting with sticks between two or more Gatka players. Sticks are intended to simulate the sword with a focus of infusing physical, spiritual and mental fitness.
