MoU inked to integrate Gatka into mainstream sporting framework
Strategic alliance aims to cultivate next generation of Gatka champions : Grewal
Chandigarh, December 18, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) – In a landmark stride towards institutionalizing India’s rich martial heritage of Gatka, NIILM University Kaithal and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI) have formally entered into a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaborative endeavour is dedicated to the systematic promotion, development and popularization of Gatka as a premier competitive sport in India.
The momentous agreement was executed by Sandeep Chahal, Chairman of NIILM University and Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, Vice President of the NGAI, who represented NGAI president Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal. The signing ceremony was graced by the presence of Davinder Dhull, University Director (Sports) and Narender Pal Singh, Joint Secretary of the Haryanvi Gatka Association underscoring robust regional endorsement for this visionary initiative.
After signing ceremony Chairman Amit Chahal stated that this alliance is poised to unlock unprecedented avenues for students, athletes and academic scholars. It signifies a concerted effort to transcend Gatka’s traditional role as a cultural exhibition and propelling it into the realm of organized competitions and academic discourse. “Through this pioneering collaboration, NIILM University solidifies its position among the select few higher education institutions to formally align with the prescribed rules of World Gatka Federation, thereby amplifying Haryana’s indelible mark on the promotion of indigenous sports,” he added.
Elaborating on the partnership, Gatka visionary Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal revealed that the MoU signifies a strategic fusion aimed at embedding Gatka training, competitions and academic inquiry within the university ecosystem. “As per the accord, NIILM University will furnish state-of-the-art sports infrastructure and institutional backing for national level Gatka initiatives while the NGAI will contribute technical mastery, certified coaches and officials and will facilitate the organization of specialized training programs and national-level competitions,” he elaborated.
The NGAI president Grewal further stated that the partnership comprehensively envisions systematic talent scouting, capacity enhancement for technical officials and vigorous promotion of Gatka through both scholarly and athletic platforms.
Echoing this sentiment, general secretary of Haryanvi Gatka Association Sukhchain Singh Kalsani emphasized that the historic collaboration with NIILM University mirrors the burgeoning acknowledgment of Gatka as a dual embodiment of ancient martial tradition and modern sporting discipline. “Universities serve as vital crucibles for preserving indigenous sports while bestowing upon them contemporary significance. This MoU represents a decisive leap in that very direction,” he concluded.
