4 traditional sports including Kalaripayattu added to Khelo India Youth Games 2021

In a first of its kind move, the Sports Ministry of India has approved the inclusion of four indigenous/traditional sports – Kalaripayattu, Mallakamb, Gatka and Thang-Ta to the Khelo India Youth Games 2021. Along with these four traditional Indian game forms, Yogasana will also be a part of the Games from the upcoming season.

"I'm very happy to announce that 4 Indigenous Games have been added, along with Yogasana, to Khelo India Youth Games 2021, to be held in Panchkula, Haryana. India has a rich culture of indigenous games and it is our endeavour to preserve, promote and popularise these," the Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Kiren Rijiju tweeted.

While, Yoga is highly popular and enjoys great popularity and admirers across the globe, the other four sports included are mainly practiced by the indigenous people of the country.

"India has a rich culture of indigenous games. PM @narendramodi Ji wants to preserve and popularise all of them. I'm very happy to announce that 4 indigenous games of Kalaripayattu, Mallakamb, Gatka and Thang-Ta have been added to the Khelo India Youth Games 2021 along with Yoganasa," read another tweet by Kiren Rijiju.

All the four of these are from different corners of India. While, Kalaripayattu belongs to the southern state of Kerala, Mallakamb is majorly seen in the central part of India in the state of Madhya Pradesh. On the other hand, Gatka is a Punjabi martial art and Thang-Ta belongs to the north-eastern state of Manipur.

Also read: Here are some of the unknown traditional sports in India