Chandigarh: Host Gatkebaaz team lifted the overall trophy in the first National Gatka Open Championship (Men & Women) which concluded at Akal Degree College Mastuana Sahib (Sangrur).
Organised by the Gatka Federation of India (GFI), about 300 Gatka players from 14 states in age category of under-14, under-17, under-19, under-22 and under-25 have participated in the three day tournament.

In the medal tally, the Punjab players won 26 medals by displaying gracious martial art talent whereas runner up Chandigarh Gatka team secured 15 medals. The Gatkebaaz from Jammu and Kashmir finished third by winning 11 medals in the national level martial art tourney held for the first time.

On the occasion chief guest Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Public Works Minister, Punjab honoured the winner Gatkebaaz and announced Rs. 2 lakh discretionary grant to GFI for the successful conduct of this competition.

Lauding the relentless services rendered by the GFI to make Gatka a 'Cosmopolitan Sport', he said that everybody could now participate in the present form of Gatka sport as the Federation has adopted the conventional sports uniform as a new dress code in its Rules book to play Gatka game in all competitions.

Presiding over the function Dhindsa hoped that earlier this rare Indian ancient martial art was almost on the verge of extinction but now this martial art would surely get a tremendous response across the diaspora as GFI has adopted Gatka as a game and promoting it vigourously at all levels.

He categorically said that promotion of Gatka as a sport at national as well as international arena would not only strengthen the bonds of communal harmony and universal brotherhood but also play a significant role in spreading the message of peace and love amongst all comity of nations. Adding further Dhindsa said that Gatka sport would also be included into the gradation list of general sports so that Gatka players could also avail the benefits being provided to the sportspersons. "Promotion of Gatka as a global sport would certainly project India as the world's largest democracy committed to secularism and unity in diversity, he asserted.

In his welcome address Gatka Federation of India (Regd.) President Harcharan Singh Bhullar said that the national competition was held according to the Rules set forth by GFI and the winners were awarded medals and certificates. \

He informed that Gatka teams from Chhattisgarh, Orrisa, Jharkhand, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Uttrakhand, Karnatka, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab have participated in this national event. He informed said that the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) has also incorporated Gatka as a game in the 56th National School Games 2011-12 slated to be held at Ludhiana during November this. Besides, the Punjab School Education Department has been conducting third State schools' Gatka tournament at Sri Anandpur Sahib. Mr Bhullar said that with the inclusion of Gatka game in the Punjab State as well as National School Games and Universities, it has provided further fillip to the Indian martial art which was in vogue for self-defence since times immemorial.

Bhullar said that earlier Gatka was only the domain of males, now even the females have been outperforming the males by displaying their rare acumen in the Gatka sport. He lamented said that that it was irony of fate that Gatka have been denied its due status and recognition but on the contrary several games, which even had not Indian origin and lesser known games, have already been included in the schedule of National sports and University Games calendar.

On the occasion Asian Gatka Federation president and NRI from Dubai SP Singh Oberoi has been awarded with title of Sher-e-Punjab. A Gatka team from Dubai also elated the audience by demonstrating the skills of martial art. A team comprising little Gatka players in the age of eight to ten years equally thrilled the spectators through their spectacular performance.

It is mentioned here that it is a style of fighting only with sticks between two Gatka players, intended to simulate the sword and focuses on infusing physical, spiritual and mental fitness. No sharp edged weapons are used in the transformed Gatka game. The present martial art form, Gatka, has been acknowledged as a sport and being played in the entire country and diaspora.