Context: The inclusion of four Indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021, scheduled to take place in Haryana. The games include: Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba.

• India has a rich heritage of indigenous sports, and it is a priority for the Sports Ministry to preserve, promote and popularise these games. 
• There is no better platform than the Khelo India Games where athletes of these games can compete. 
• The games have huge popularity and is telecast across the country by Star Sports, in the 2021 Khelo India Youth Games these four disciplines, along with Yogasana, will get their much deserved attention among sports enthusiasts and youth of the country. 
• In the coming years we will be able to add more indigenous sports at the Khelo Games. 
• The Khelo India Games 2021 are scheduled to be held in Haryana.

The four selected games represent different parts of the country:
Gatka

• Gatka originates from the state of Punjab.
• It is a traditional fighting style of the Nihang Sikh Warriors and is used in self-defence as well as sport.

Kalaripayattu

• Kalaripayattu is a traditional martial art form originating from Kerala.
• It is believed to be the oldest surviving martial art in India and is also among the oldest martial arts in existence worldwide.
• Its origins date back to at least the 3rd century BCE.

Thang-Ta

• Thang-Ta is a martial art form from Manipur.
• It is a part of the martial art Huyen langlon. Thang-Ta means armed combat. The other aspect of Huyen langlon is sarit sarak (unarmed fighting).
• ‘Thang’ means sword and ‘Ta’ means spear – both of which are the primary weapons of Huyen langlon.

Mallakhamba

• Mallakhamba or Mallakhamb is a traditional sport, originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga or gymnastic postures and wrestling grips in concert with a vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane, or rope.
• Three popular versions of Mallakhamb are practised using a Sheesham pole, cane, or rope.
• In 2013, it was declared the state sport of Madhya Pradesh.

Also Read: https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/IAS/MTc4Nzk3/Khelo-India-State-Centres-of-Excellence-Miscellaneous-GK-IAS