Punjab Gatka Association (PGA) in its general body meeting unanimously elected Harcharn Singh Bhullar IPS as president for the second consecutive term. Dr Deep Singh Chandigarh as observer of Gatka Federation of India smoothly conducted election process held here today. In the election meeting Jaswant Singh Bhullar proposed the name of Harcharn Singh Bhullar as president that was seconded by Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal ETO, Jaswant Singh Chhapa and Gursharn Singh Bittu.Bhullar also announced election of new team members of PGA that included Harjeet Singh Grewal Deputy Director as General Secretary, Advocate Daljit Kaur as Joint Secretary-cum-Legal Advisor and Baljinder Singh Saini as Office Secretary of the Association. He added that central offices of PGA and Gatka Federation of India (GFI) would be opened soon in sector 5 Chandigarh.
After his election as president Bhullar formed six different zones namely Majha, Doaba, Central, Patiala, Bathinda and Ferozpur zone to boost Gatka activities and smooth conduct of martial art tournaments in the state. He also announced 14 coordinators for the zones to organize training camps and effectively supervising virsa sambhal Gatka activities in the districts.He further elaborated that Jassa Singh Patiala and Avtar Singh Patiala nominated as coordinators for Malwa zone. Similarly, Dr Baldev Singh Boparai from Gurdaspur and Manjit Singh Amritsar for Majha zone, Gurpartap Singh Pannu from Jalandhar, Sachnam Singh Hoshiarpur and Gurwinder Kaur Seechewal would look after Doaba zone.
Besides this, Jaswant Singh Chhapa, Principal Baljinder Singh Toor and Udey Singh Fatehgarh Sahib would take care of Central zone where as Bhola Singh Virk Barnala and Bidhi Singh Bathinda would oversee Bathinda zone. Ekonkar Singh Muktsar and Gurvinder Singh Vipin would supervise Gatka activities in Ferozpur zone.For further promotion of traditional Gatka game in the state, he asked the newly appointed coordinators and district presidents to organize Gatka refresher camps and tournaments besides establishment of Gatka training centers in the state. Bhullar informed the office bearers that under the modernization plan, GFI would launch new online "Gatka Management Software" to maintain tournaments and players records. Adding further he said that PGA and GFI had already launched mobile Gatka app for android smart phones to provide on the go information and news to Gatka players worldwide.He also announced that second Punjab state Gatka tournament and national Gatka championship would be held at Mohali and Mastuana Sahib in Sangrur respectively during the month of February. Bhullar also solicited Gatka players to devote time to this emerging game and turn away from practicing stunts during Gatka demonstrations. On the occasion Bhullar also released PGA annual calendar and magazine "Shashtarnama" for the public.