Chandigarh/ Punjab (December 29, 2013): It is learnt taht the Punjabi University Patiala will be hosting second all India Inter-University Gatka (Men & Women) tournament-2013 from January 8 to January 10, 2014 at university campus in which more than dozen university Gatka teams would participate.
According to a statement sent to the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) by World Gatka Federation (WGF), Dr Raj Kumar Sharma Director Sports Punjabi University said that the team winners would be awarded cash prizes from Rs 31,000, Rs 21,000 and Rs 11,000 respectively for their top positions.
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According to the statement former Union Minister and MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who is also president of World Gatka Federation, would inaugurate the tournament on January 8.
Mr SP Singh Oberoi president Asian Gatka Federation and Harcharan Singh Bhullar president Gatka Federation of India would be the as guests of honour on this occasion.
As per inforamtion Dr Jaspal Singh Vice Chancellor Punjabi University would preside over the prize distribution ceremony on January 10 for which sports department has already made adequate arrangements for successful conduct of this tournament.
As per statement Dr Jaspal Singh Vice Chancellor was longing earnestly for preservation and promotion of this ancient martial art at national level and Punjabi University had taken initiative to organize All India Inter-varsity Gatka competitions with the help of Gatka Federation.
According to the World Gatka Federation earlier, the Gatka was only the domain of males, now even the females have been outperforming the males by displaying their rare acumen in the Gatka sport. The present martial art form, Gatka, had been acknowledged as a sport and being played in the entire country and diaspora.
“It is mentioned here that Gatka is a style of fighting only with sticks between two Gatka players, intended to simulate the sword and focuses on infusing physical, spiritual and mental fitness. No sharp edged weapons are used in the Gatka game and it has become a cosmopolitan sport”, reads the statement.