To promote the Sikh martial art Gatka, the International Sikh Martial Arts Academy (ISMAA) has decided to organise martial arts competitions and free training camps across the country. Besides, ISMAA has also decided that during the Gatka competitions to be organised in schools and colleges level, only stick fighting - Single Soti and Farri-Soti events, will be held.This was announced by Chairman of ISMAA Harjit Singh Grewal during a meeting held at Amrit Indo-Candian Academy in Ladhian Kalan, Ludhiana in which coordinators, district presidents and general secretaries of the Academy were present.
Giving details regarding adoption of new rules and regulations of playing Gatka, Grewal said the combative and defensive skills of the Sikh martial art will only be demonstrated during the Virsa Sambhal competitions. In schools, colleges and university-level events only stick-fight contests will be held, he added.
Grewal further said to connect the youth with traditional martial art, ISMAA has been organising series of Gatka competitions and tournaments in various states. To promote this sport more competitions will be organised in other countries also, added Grewal.He elaborated that ISMAA will also organise training camps, workshops and seminars for the promotion of the Sikh martial art where coaches and other eminent personalities will share their experience with budding players, said Grewal while urging the youngsters to came forward and promote this traditional art and maintain distance from drugs. Grewal further said the ISMAA will compile and release the directory of Gatka Aakharas running across the country.Among others present on this occasion included Amrit Indo-Candian Academy Director Harminder Singh and principal Jaskiran Kaur, vice chairman of ISMAA Avtar Singh Patiala and Raghvir Chand Chandigarh, secretary Udhey Singh, finance secretary Baljit Singh Saini and district coordinators Talwinder Singh (Ferozepur), Harkiranjit Singh (Fazilka), Lakhbir Singh (Hoshiarpur), Harjit Singh Gill (Bathinda), Harjinder Singh (Taran Taran), Manjit Singh Butahari, press secretary Harjinder Gandhi, Parminder Singh Sidhu, Harbir Singh, Harwinder Singh, Kuldip Singh, Sukhdeep Singh, Amandeep Singh Bhatti, Balwinder Singh Humbran, Angrej Singh, Pritpal Singh Bassian, Shivkaran Singh Bhairupa, Jagsir Singh Barnala, Sukhdarshan Singh and Shivkaran Singh.