Four Indigenous Games To Be Included in Khelo India Youth Games 2021

The Sports Ministry has approved the inclusion of four indigenous games to be a part of the Khelo India Youth Games 2021, scheduled to take place in Haryana. The games include Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta, and Mallakhamba. Speaking about the games, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju said it is his ministry's priority to preserve, promote and popularise indigenous sports, adding that in the coming years, they will add more indigenous sports at the Khelo Games.

"India has a rich heritage of indigenous sports, and it is a 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, so I am 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. In the coming years we will be able to add more indigenous sports at the Khelo Games," Rijiju said in a statement.

The four selected games represent different parts of the country. Kalaripayattu has its origin from Kerala and has practitioners all over the world, which include Bollywood actor Vidyut Jammwal. Mallakhamba has been well-known across India and Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport.

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. Thang-Ta, a Manipur martial art has passed into oblivion in recent decades, but the sport will get national recognition again with the help of the Khelo India Youth Games 2021.

"We are glad to know that the Sports Ministry has included Indian ancient martial art Gatka in the Khelo India Youth Games. We are sure that this effort of Khelo India will certainly help to promote and revive a forgotten Indian traditional martial art having a historical significance. In addition, this step will give a boost to the efforts of the National Gatka Association of India in furtherance of creating awareness in the country as well as overseas," said Harjeet Singh Grewal, President, National Gatka Association of India.

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. We want to be very successful in the competition and this will help us get more recognition nationally and internationally," said Vinod Sharma, Secretary, Thang-Ta Federation of India.