CHANDIGARH: The Asian Gatka Federation, affiliated with the World Gatka Federation, has expressed gratitude for inclusion of Gatka sport in the 37th National Games of India and hoped that this recognition would inspire other countries to acknowledge Gatka as a competitive sport.
In a statement, Jaswant Singh Goga, President of the Asian Gatka Federation (AGF), said this achievement has bring about a great joy to Gatka athletes, officials and promoters worldwide. It would facilitate flourishing of this ancient sport not only in India but also around the world, he added.
While commending the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI) and the World Gatka Federation (WGF) for their dedicated efforts in promoting Gatka, the AGF president has extended gratitude to the Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Anurag Thakur, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for including this sport in the national games. He hopes that they would continue to provide all assistance and more opportunities to the NGAI in promoting this ancient Indian art form.
Jaswant Singh Goga has extended his congratulations to all Gatka players and technical officials worldwide on this historic achievement. He has also applauded the continuing tireless efforts of S. Harjeet Singh Grewal, president of NGAI, over the past decade and a half in achieving this significant milestone.
He revealed that the World Gatka Federation (WGF), as the apex governing body, had devised a roadmap called "Vision Document-2030" to promote and popularize Gatka globally. The AGF was fully committed to implement this roadmap in the Asia region, adding further Jaswant Singh disclosed that the next goal outlined in this roadmap is inclusion of Gatka in the Asian Games, SAIF Games, Commonwealth Games, and then the Olympic Games.
He emphasised the importance of achieving this goal, as other sports contemporaneous with Gatka had already been included in the aforementioned international games. Jaswant Singh stated that the AGF was confident that, with the continued support of the international community, Gatka would soon be recognized as a truly global sport.
He called upon all to support this cause and looking forward to work in tendon with all stakeholders so as to turn this vision into a reality.