DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Today, "Gatka" has become the pride of India which was started by the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib ji for self-defense. For the first time, Gatka has also been included in Khelo India Youth Games. 16 teams from all over the country have reached Panchkula to participate in this game. The World Gatka Federation associated with this game is now trying to take this game not only to the national but also to the international level. Vice President of World Gatka Federation, Sh Sukhchain Singh said that the story of getting this game in Khelo India is not as easy as it is being told in words. It took a lot of effort to bring this to a point of self-defense that started about 550 years ago. First it was decided to bring this into a single sport mode and small Gatka games were organized in the villages. Then Gatka events were organized at the block level. Gradually 9 competitions were organized at the district level and then at the national level. There was a lot to be learned from these competitions, out of which different rules were decided. 9 books of rules were published. After this the rules were finalized and the game got recognition. The presentation of Gatka Games was given in the Khelo India competition held in Guwahati in 2020. After this the Government of India allowed it to be included in Khelo India. Gatka is played with a stick. It is called Soti in Hindi. An event occurs with a single stick. There are two participants, both of them have their own stick. Similarly, there is also a team event with single stick, in which there are three participants in a team. The third event is played with a free stick. It consists of a stick as well as a shield in the other hand. A player can participate in both the events. Sh. Sukhchain Singh said that Gatka is no longer limited to Sikhs, but people from all communities are taking part in it. The latest example of this is being seen in the Khelo India Games. Here 256 players from 16 teams have arrived for the Gatka competition. This includes teams from Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Rajasthan, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Tilangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Sh. Sukhchain Singh said that efforts are on to give recognition to this sport not only at the national level but also at the international level. After the Khelo India Games, now the Gatka Federation is trying to get it included in the National Sports Federation. Haryana team has made a tremendous start in the game of Gatka by winning silver medals in two events. In women's single stick team competition, Chandigarh won gold, Haryana won silver and Punjab and New Delhi won bronze. Similarly, in women's single stick singles competition, Chandigarh won gold, Haryana won silver and Maharashtra and New Delhi won bronze. In the women's free stick team competition, Punjab has won gold, New Delhi has won silver and the teams of Maharashtra and Uttarakhand have won bronze. (editor@dailyworld.in)