Gatka teams from Punjab and Haryana showcased their mesmerising combative and defensive skills of traditional martial art during two days second All India Martial Arts Festival-cum-Tournament held here yesterday. This Gatka competition was organised by Martial Arts Board International in association with National Gatka Association of India (NGAI) and International Sikh Martial Art Academy (ISMAA).Disclosing this ISMAA press secretary Harjinder Kumar and finance secretary Baljit Singh Saini said this martial art tournament was inaugurated by NGAI president Harjeet Singh Grewal in which Gatka teams comprising boys and girls have participated in Farri-Soti fight (individual events) and Gatka weapons demonstration competition. Gatka team of ISMAA clinched overall trophy of this event.Speaking on the occasion Gatka promoter Harjeet Singh Grewal said Gatka is a time tested self-defensive art which also imbibes cultural and traditional values among the youth. He stressed that it is need of the hour to promote this centuries old traditional sport so as to wean away the youth from the menace of habit forming drugs.
Mr Grewal revealed that NGAi and ISMAA have chalked out an exhaustive plan to organize martial art tournaments, training camps, Gatka seminars and workshops in different states to train the budding players.Giving details of tournament results Avtar Singh vice president NGAI and national Gatka coach informed that in Farri-Soti fight (individual event) in women's section Harmeet Kaur from ISMAA and Bhavneet Kaur Morinda won gold and silver medals respectively whereas Karnpreet Kaur Rajpura and Antra Sen SAS Nagar achieved bonze medals. In men's category Davinder Singh from ISMAA and Sandeep Pal Singh Rajpura got got gold and silver medals respectively whereas Karanpreet Singh Morinda and Parmjit Singh Nabha achieved bronze medals.During Gatka weapons demonstration Gatkebaaz from ISMAA exhibited their best martial art skills thereby got gold medal. Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gatka Akhara Rajpura team won silver medal whereas Akal Academy Siona (Patiala) and Baba Fateh Singh Gatka Academy Nabha got bronze medals.Among others present on the occasion included president Martial Arts Board International Rajivpal Singh, president Gatka Association Pinjore Rajinder Singh Raju and NGAI organising secretary Chitmanjeet Singh Grewal.