Haryana Leads in Sports Promotion; Khelo India Inclusion Gives Gatka Players a Boost: Minister Ranbir Gangwa

Ratia: Haryana Cabinet Minister for Public Works and Public Health Engineering Ranbir Gangwa has said that Haryana is among the leading states in promoting sports and providing better opportunities to athletes. He said the inclusion of Gatka in the Khelo India programme by the Government of India has given the traditional martial art greater recognition and encouraged players to pursue the sport.

Gangwa made the remarks while attending the Sub-Junior and Junior National Gatka Championship 2026 as the chief guest at Guru Nanak Defence and Sports Academy in Ratia. The championship has been organised by the Gatka Federation of India, with more than 1,000 players from 21 states participating.

How Is Khelo India Encouraging Gatka Players?

Gangwa said the inclusion of Gatka in Khelo India was an important step towards promoting the traditional Indian martial art and creating more opportunities for its players.

He congratulated the participants and appreciated the efforts of the Gatka Federation of India and the organisers in conducting the national-level championship.

The minister said such competitions allow players to showcase their abilities, learn from athletes from other states and improve their sporting skills.

He added that the event was originally scheduled to be attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. However, as the Chief Minister was on a foreign visit, Gangwa attended the championship as his representative and conveyed his best wishes to the players, coaches, trainers and parents.

Gatka Promotes Discipline, Courage and Indian Heritage

Gangwa described Gatka as a traditional Indian martial art that promotes physical fitness, discipline, confidence, courage and concentration.

He said the sport also helps young people remain connected with Indian culture and traditions. Greater recognition at the national level, he added, could encourage more youngsters to take up Gatka as a sporting career.

The minister highlighted Haryana's achievements in national and international sports competitions, noting that athletes from the state have earned recognition through their hard work, dedication and discipline.

He said the Haryana government continued to work towards nurturing sporting talent and providing athletes with the facilities they need to succeed.

Gangwa also urged participants to compete in the true spirit of sportsmanship, learn from both victories and defeats, and aim to represent the country at national and international levels. He praised the contribution of coaches and parents in supporting athletes throughout their sporting journeys.

Sikh Leaders Highlight Gatka's Traditional Significance

Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal, chairman of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, also attended the 10th National Sub-Junior and Junior Gatka Championship 2026 at Guru Nanak Defence and Sports Academy.

Daduwal spoke about Gatka's importance in Sikh tradition, the proud legacy of the Guru's army and the need to promote this traditional martial art.

He described Ratia's hosting of a national-level Gatka championship as a matter of pride for the region. He said such events provide players with a platform to demonstrate their abilities while strengthening local sports culture and motivating young people to participate in sporting activities.

He wished the participants success and congratulated the organisers on conducting the championship.

Political Representatives and Sports Officials Attend

Several public representatives, sports officials and dignitaries attended the event, including BJP Haryana vice-president Ravinder Singh Baliyala, former MLA Laxman Napa, Ratia SDM Surender Singh, Gatka Federation of India president Rajinder Singh Sohal, general secretary Baljinder Singh, and Haryana Gatka Association president Sarwan Singh.

Randhir Singh, Jile Singh, Suresh Mehta, Vinod Bansal, Kriti, Gurmukh, Subhash Khileri, Udhay Singh, Dr Naib Singh Mander, Naresh and Sanjay were also present, along with other dignitaries and athletes.