Golf, gatka latest sports to knock on National Games door

Panaji: Goa will initiate talks with starred hotels in the state to see if golf can be added to the list of growing disciplines for the 37th National Games later this year.
Golf has never been part of the National Games since inception and until last week, there were no plans to accommodate the sport. However, initial discussions on the inclusion of golf has been held during the three-day visit of the inspection team from Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and a review meeting.
“For now, inclusion of golf is at the initial stage,” said a senior official who attended the review meeting on Tuesday. “Discussions have been held. We first need to see if there’s a suitable venue available in the state.”
Goa has hosted invitational golf tournaments in the past at starred hotels.
Other sports that are vying to be part of the National Games include the traditional sport of lagori, roll ball, sqay martial arts, pencak silat and gatka.
While gatka is a stick-fighting sport that originated in Punjab and remains part of the Khelo India Youth Games, roll ball is a combination of handball and skating. Sqay and pencak silat are both martial arts forms that originated in Kashmir and Indonesia respectively.
“There is an internal process to add games and we have to look at various norms,” said Amitabh Sharma, chairman of the Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC). “We should promote what we have inherited culturally. There are a few games which are being considered and in the next few months, much before the Games, we will have some of these included in the National Games programme.”
Goa is expected to host a record number of disciplines when the Games are held in October-November this year. While 38 disciplines have already got the nod, more are expected to be added.
At least two disciplines – shooting and cycling – will be held outside the state.
“Probably cycling (held at the velodrome) and shooting maybe shifted out of the state to a sister city,” said Sharma.
Delhi and Pune are understood to be the options to host cycling and shooting events.
The visiting IOA delegation visited several venues across the state to check Goa’s preparedness for the oft-postponed National Games. While some concerns have emerged and may need relook at the venues, the Games finally appear to be on track.
“The Games are not far-sighted anymore, it will be held this year,” said Sharma. “Wherever there have been some minor concerns, those have been deliberated upon. Whatever the missing links, will be taken care of.”
Goa signed the host city contract in 2008 to host the National Games in 2011, but delays elsewhere meant the 36th edition the state was allotted to host, could technically be held only after Kerala were done with the 35th edition in 2015.
Goa said it would host the Games in 2016, but has since been unable to complete the infrastructure necessary to host the multi-discipline event.
The last edition was moved out to Gujarat, who hosted the event at a short notice of just four months last year.