The Sports Ministry has approved the inclusion of four Indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021, scheduled to take place in Haryana. The games are:
- Gatka from Punjab
- Kalaripayattu – from Kerala
- Thang-Ta from Manipur
- Mallakhamba from Madhya Pradesh
Gatka
Gatka originates from the State of Punjab and this traditional fighting style of the Nihang Sikh Warriors is used both as self-defense as well as a sport.
Kalaripayattu
Kalaripayattu has its origin from Kerala and has practitioners all over the world.
Thang-Ta
Thang-Ta, a Manipur marital art has passed into oblivion in the recent decades, but the sport will get national recognition again with the help of the Khelo India Youth Games 2021.
Mallakhamba
Mallakhamba has been well-known across India and Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport.
About Khelo India Youth Games
Khelo India Youth Games is a part of the revamped national programme for development of sports, Khelo India. On 31 January 2018, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurated Khelo India School Games held at Indira Gandhi Arena. From the 2019, Khelo India School Games were renamed to Khelo India Youth Games after Indian Olympic Association came on board earlier in September 2018.
Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) are held for two categories, namely under-17 years school students and under-21 college students.
