(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Sports Ministry encouraging Indigenous Games: Gatko, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba along with Yogasana

[November-2021]

Sports Ministry encouraging Indigenous Games: Gatko, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba along with Yogasana

The Sports Ministry is also encouraging indigenous games by supporting them. It has approved the inclusion of four Indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021, scheduled to take place in Haryana. The games include: Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba along with Yogasana.
India has a rich heritage of indigenous sports, and it is priority for the Sports Ministry to preserve, promote and popularise these games. There is no better platform than the Khelo India Games where athletes of these games can compete. The games have huge popularity and are telecast across the country by Star Sports. The Sports Ministry is confident that in the 2021 Khelo India Youth Games these four disciplines, along with Yogasana, will get their much deserved attention among sports enthusiasts and youth of the country. There is no doubt that in the coming years more indigenous sports will be added to the Khelo India Games.
The four selected games represent different parts of the country. Kalaripayattu has its origin from Kerala and has practitioners all over the world; Bollywood actor Vidyut Jammwal being one. Mallakhamba, meanwhile, has been well-known across India and Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport. Indian ancient martial art Gatka originates from the State of Punjab and this traditional fighting style of the Nihang Sikh Warriors is used both as self-defense as well as a sport. This effort of Khelo India will certainly help to promote and revive a forgotten Indian traditional martial art having a historical significance.
Thang-Ta, a Manipuri martial art has passed into oblivion in recent decades, but the sport will reinvigorate ago in with the help of the Khelo India Youth Games 2021. The Thang-Ta Federation also confirmed that the competition will vastly popularise the sport. Over 400 athletes from different states will participate in the competition. They wont to be very successful in the competition and this will help them get more recognition nationally and internationally.