Panchkula, 23 December 2024: The inaugural National Pythian Games 2024 concluded at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana, with Haryana clinching the overall championship in the Gatka competitions.
Organized under the leadership of Dr. Bajinder Goyal, President of the Pythian Council of India, this event marked a significant milestone in India’s cultural and sporting landscape.
Approximately 200 participants, aged under 18, from 12 states competed in the Gatka competitions. Haryana led the medal tally with 5 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze. Punjab followed with 2 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals, while Chandigarh secured third place with 1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze medals.
Other states, including Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Jammu, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Tamil Nadu, also earned bronze medals across various categories.
The Pythian Games, originating in ancient Greece around 582 BC, were held every four years at Delphi in honor of the god Apollo. They featured competitions in art, dance, and various sports, and were historically second in importance only to the Olympic Games.
Dr. Goyal emphasized the revival of these games in India, highlighting their cultural and historical significance.
Detailed results of the Gatka competitions are as follows:
Boys’ Competitions:
Free Stick Individual:
1st: Varspreet Singh (Haryana) 2nd: Gurlal Singh (Chandigarh) 3rd (tie): Sahib Singh (Punjab), Parth Khiste (Maharashtra)
Free Stick Team:
1st: Haryana (Anmoldeep Singh, Varspreet Singh, Armandeep Singh) 2nd: Punjab (Jaspreet Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Sahib Singh, Rishabhjeet Singh) 3rd: Chandigarh (Amanpreet Singh, Damanveer Singh, Gurlal Singh, Satwant Singh), Maharashtra (Prithviraj Pandit, Harshal Patil, Parth Jadhav, Vallabh)
Single Stick Team:
1st: Punjab (Damanpreet Singh, Jaskirat Singh, Gursharan Singh, Gurkirat Singh) 2nd: Haryana (Simranjeet Singh, Jaskirat Singh, Rajveer Singh, Sartaj Singh) 3rd: Chandigarh (Manminder Singh, Prabhashish Singh, Karanveer Singh, Mankirat Singh), Jharkhand (Sagar Kumar, Vansh Raj, Shashi Raj Yadav)
Single Stick Individual:
1st: Damanpreet Singh (Punjab) 2nd: Karanveer Singh (Chandigarh) 3rd (tie): Sahijpal Singh (Jammu), Jaskirat Singh (Haryana)
Girls’ Competitions:
Free Stick Individual:
1st: Harsimranjeet Kaur (Haryana) 2nd: Surmeet Kaur (Punjab) 3rd (tie): Jashnpreet Kaur (Chandigarh), Disha Sehgal (Maharashtra)
Free Stick Team:
1st: Chandigarh (Jasmeet Kaur, Jasmine Kaur, Pawaneet Kaur, Jashnpreet Kaur) 2nd: Haryana (Ekpreet Kaur, Tamanna, Harsimranjeet Kaur, Harshpreet Kaur) 3rd: Uttarakhand (Jashandeep Kaur, Harneev Kaur, Arshdeep Kaur), Tamil Nadu (V. Megavarsani, D. Naomik, D. Shrutiksha)
Single Stick Team:
1st: Haryana (Ashmeet Kaur, Jaskirat Kaur, Arjmeet Kaur) 2nd: Punjab (Namanpreet Kaur, Dalveerpreet Kaur, Harsimran Kaur) 3rd: Delhi (Anmoldeep Kaur, Divyanshi, Bhumika, Ishika Mehta), Chandigarh (Preneet Kaur Sohi, Harpreet Kaur, Ishpreet Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur)
Single Stick Individual:
1st: Arjmeet Kaur (Haryana) 2nd: Harsimran Kaur (Punjab) 3rd (tie): Harmanpreet Kaur (Chandigarh), Vijayalakshmi Pimprikar (Maharashtra)
The successful organization of these games underscores a renewed interest in preserving and promoting traditional sports and cultural heritage in India.
Gatka is a traditional Sikh martial art originating from the Punjab region, primarily practiced by Sikhs and related ethnic groups. It involves stick fighting using wooden sticks, known as “Soti,” designed to simulate swords. Historically, Gatka was employed for self-defense and during Sikh wars, but it has evolved into a sport and cultural performance, often showcased during Sikh festivals.
