The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has breathed new life into the sporting sector with the inclusion of Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta, and Mallakhamb in Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2021. These traditional sports will now be part of a nationwide platform, aimed at promoting sports across the country and encouraging holistic development of children and youth through sports.
About Khelo India Youth Games
The KIYG is a flagship event in India’s calendar and is set to take place in Haryana for the 2021 edition, following the successful 2020 event in Guwahati, Assam. As a core element of the ‘Khelo India’ scheme, launched by the Union Cabinet in 2017, KIYG aims to foster sporting talent across the nation. The scheme provides an annual financial aid of Rs. 5 lakh for 8 years to gifted athletes identified in priority sports disciplines.
Gatka: An Art of Defence
Originating from Punjab, Gatka stands as a symbol of the Nihang Sikh Warriors’ traditional combat style utilized as both self-defense and sport. Tracing back to the Mughal Era when the 6th Sikh Guru Hargobind adopted ‘Kirpan’ for self-defence, Gatka gained recognition as a sport following the establishment of the Gatka Federation of India in 2008.
Kalaripayattu: The Oldest Martial Art
Known simply as Kalari, Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art form stemming from Kerala. It holds a special place in the hearts of martial artists for its rich history in Indian martial arts. With roots dating back to at least the 3rd century BCE, it’s believed to be one of the oldest surviving martial arts worldwide. A ‘Kalari’, the arena for practicing this art, signifies a kind of gymnasium in Malayalam.
Mallakhamb: The Wrestling Pole
Mallakhamb is a unique sport from the Indian subcontinent that combines aerial yoga and gymnastics on a stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane, or rope. The term Mallakhamb comes from the words ‘malla,’ meaning wrestler, and ‘khamb,’ meaning pole. It signifies a traditional training tool used by wrestlers, mainly prevalent in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Thang Ta: The Art of Armed Combat
Hailing from Manipur, Huyen langlon, or Thang Ta, constitutes an Indian martial art form. In the Meitei language, ‘huyen’ signifies war, while ‘langlon’ can mean net, knowledge, or art. Thang Ta includes both armed combat (thang-ta) and unarmed fighting (sarit sarak). The key weapons in Thang Ta are a sword (thang) and a spear (ta), with others including a shield and an axe.
