ACHIEVEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
The NGAI office bearers have been working hard relentlessly to get proper recognition to this martial art from different platforms and states besides its promotion in every sphere. Following are the brief achievements for your perusal ;
- The Punjab Government had included the Gatka game in its state gradation list in 2015 and the Gatka players are eligible to avail the benefits under 3 percent sports quota during recruitment in government jobs and getting admissions in all professional and academic institutions.
- The School Games Federation of India (SGFI) had included Gatka as a sport in 56th National School Games calendar in 2011-12.
- Department of Education, Punjab had also recognised Gatka as a sport in its schools, colleges and universities in 2009 and organizing Punjab State Inter-District Gatka tournaments since then.
- The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) SAS Nagar had also been organising cultural competitions including Gatka annually.
- The PSEB awards 25 marks and 15 marks in total marks of +2 students who brings laurels in the national and state competitions respectively. In addition to this, three marks are awarded in total marks during the annual practical examinations to all players including Gatka players.
- The PSEB had also included lessons on Gatka in school textbooks.
- The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) had included Gatka in 75th National University Sports calendar in 2015-2016. The Punjabi University Patiala had organized All India Inter-University Gatka (Men & Women) prize money tournaments four times since 2011.
- The Khelo India, administered by Union Sports ministry, have also recognised the Gatka game as indigenous martial art in 2019 and supporting three Gatka training centers in Punjab and Haryana.
- The Khelo India has included Gatka in the 4th Khelo India Youth Games in 2020 to be held at Panchkula, Haryana in November 2021.
- The Khelo India is providing monthly scholarships to 51 Gatka players (U-17 & U-14) who have won in National Gatka championship
- The NGAI is holding free Gatka training camps, refresher courses, seminars, workshops and online training to impart proper training to players and officials.
- In collaboration with WGF, the NGAI has formulated and standardized in-depth 3rd edition of International Gatka Rules book to play Gatka as systematic game.
- To put in place an effective mechanism to identify and nurture Gatka sporting talent, the NGAI & ISMAC will establish an academic residential institute namely “International Gatka Institute for Research and Training (IGIRT) in SAS Nagar, Punjab to conduct research and development activities on Gatka as well as Sikh martial art.
- As per the MoU signed by the WGF with Punjabi University Patiala in 2012, the university had started one year “Diploma in Gatka Training” course. On this pattern, the NGAI will also start six/three months certificate courses and online training in the IGRIT. Besides this, specialized Gatka Training Centers (GTCs) will also to be setup in all the districts/States to impart training to players/officials.
- The Sikh Martial Art Research and Training Board (SMART Board) have been reconstituted to grant scholarships to the aspiring research scholars pursuing study in the field of martial art Gatka to perpetuate the rich legacy of age-old martial art Gatka amongst the future generations on one hand and to revive this dying art on the other.
- A documentary film is under production besides animation films on Sikh martial art will also be produced to showcase its historical importance for creating awareness, unique self-defence mechanism and Gatka learning/training to children. Besides this, social media pages & websites on Gatka have also been running including a mobile Gatka App to disseminate awareness on the web world.
- To expand the horizon of Gatka sport, WGF and AGF have also been constituted and registered to manage, regulate and promote Gatka organisations globally. Besides, National Gatka Federations have already been constituted in many countries and the process is continue to constitute more national federations.
- The WGF and AGF planning to hold first Asian Gatka championship in 2022.
- A “Vision Document-2030” has been prepared in 2016 to upgrade playing and management of Gatka tournaments by infusing latest IT techniques and to include Gatka in Olympic Games in the coming times.
- The administrative body of Australian Sikh Games had also included the Gatka as a competitive sport in 2019.
The office bearers of NGAI have dream and vision to promote and exhibit Gatka to the diaspora and desirous of Gatka to be included as a game in the Olympics. The NGAI calls upon all commonality to earnestly cooperate, support and help in attaining the desired goal to which the Sikh Sangat longing for utmost since decades for this historic game.
It seems a task of gigantic proportions at first to accomplish mission of taking Gatka to greater heights but with your cooperation and wholehearted support, this wide-raging holy task can surely be completed with resounding success. Join Us in our selfless efforts for the sake of Gatka by supporting us in various ways as you think so.