National Pythian Games: Haryana dominates Gatka events, Punjab takes second, Chandigarh third
Punjab E News: The inaugural Pythian National Cultural Games 2024 concluded yesterday with grandeur at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana.
The event featured a series of national-level competitions in traditional sports, martial arts, and various artistic disciplines.
These heritage games, organized under the leadership of Dr. Bajinder Goyal, Chairman of the Pythian Council of India and a former minister of Jharkhand, were held for the first time in India.
According to S. Harjit Singh Grewal, President of the National Gatka Association of India, and Vice President Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, formal Gatka competitions for participants under 18 years were also conducted. Nearly 200 players, including boys and girls from 12 states, participated in the heritage Gatka events.
Overall Results
Haryana emerged as the overall champion, securing five gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Punjab followed in second place with two gold, four silver, and two bronze medals, while Chandigarh finished third with one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.
Maharashtra earned four bronze medals, while Jharkhand, Jammu, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Tamil Nadu each won one bronze medal.
Dr. Goyal highlights Pythian Games’ legacy
Dr. Bajinder Goyal said that the historical significance of the Pythian Games, originally one of the four Panhellenic Games in ancient Greece.
Held every four years in Delphi to honor Apollo, these games ranked second in importance after the Olympics and included art and dance competitions. The games were established in the 6th century BCE and continued until 424 BCE.
Results – Boys’ Gatka Competitions
Free Stick Individual Event:
1. Warspreet Singh (Haryana)
2. Gurlal Singh (Chandigarh)
3. Sahib Singh (Punjab) & Parth Khiste (Maharashtra)
Free Stick Team Event:
1. Haryana: Anmoldeep Singh, Warspreet Singh, Armandeep Singh
2. Punjab: Jaspreet Singh, Gurbaz Singh, Sahib Singh, Rishabhjeet Singh
3. Chandigarh: Amanpreet Singh, Damanveer Singh, Gurlal Singh, Satwant Singh
Maharashtra: Prithviraj Pandit, Harshal Patil, Parth Jadhav
Single Stick Team Event:
1. Punjab: Damanpreet Singh, Jaskirat Singh, Gursharan Singh, Gurkirat Singh
2. Haryana: Simranjeet Singh, Jaskirat Singh, Rajveer Singh, Sartaj Singh
3. Chandigarh: Manminder Singh, Prabhasish Singh, Karanveer Singh, Mankirat Singh
Jharkhand: Sagar Kumar, Vansh Raj, Shashi Raj Yadav
Single Stick Individual Event:
1. Damanpreet Singh (Punjab)
2. Karanveer Singh (Chandigarh)
3. Sahijpal Singh (Jammu) & Jaskirat Singh (Haryana)
Results – Girls’ Gatka Competitions
Free Stick Individual Event:
1. Harsimarjeet Kaur (Haryana)
2. Surmeet Kaur (Punjab)
3. Jasnpreet Kaur (Chandigarh) & Disha Sehgal (Maharashtra)
Free Stick Team Event:
1. Chandigarh: Jasmeet Kaur, Jasmine Kaur, Pawneet Kaur, Jasnpreet Kaur
2. Haryana: Ekpreet Kaur, Tamanna, Harsimarjeet Kaur, Harshpreet Kaur
3. Uttarakhand: Jashandeep Kaur, Harneev Kaur, Arshdeep Kaur
Tamil Nadu: V. Megavarshini, D. Naomi, D. Shrutixa
Single Stick Team Event:
1. Haryana: Ashmeet Kaur, Jaskirat Kaur, Arjmeet Kaur
2. Punjab: Namanpreet Kaur, Dalvirpreet Kaur, Harsimar Kaur
3. Delhi: Anmoldeep Kaur, Divyanshi, Bhoomika, Ishika Mehta
Chandigarh: Parneet Kaur Sohi, Harpreet Kaur, Ishpreet Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur
Single Stick Individual Event:
1. Arjmeet Kaur (Haryana)
2. Harsimar Kaur (Punjab)
3. Harmanpreet Kaur (Chandigarh)
Vijayalaxmi Pimprikar (Maharashtra)