The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was successfully held near Cardiff, Wales — the first time the event took place in the country. The championship highlighted the traditional Sikh martial art of Gatka, with players from seven leading Akharas impressing the regulars through fast strikes, skillful moves and svelte techniques. The tournament was officially inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), withal with MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, President of Gatka Federation UK, and other dignitaries.
Growing interest among youth
Announcing the winners, MP Tan Dhesi, moreover Chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee, said the yearly tournaments show how much interest the UK’s younger generation has in Gatka. All contests were held in Farrie-Soti (individual) style. In the girls’ group, Roop Kaur of Akali Phoola Singh Gatka Akhara Coventry won first place over teammate Manroop Kaur. Third place went to Rihanna Kaur of Baba Banda Singh Gatka Akhara Gravesend. In the boys’ group, Navjot Singh of Baba Fateh Singh Gatka Akhara Woolwich write-up fellow player Jashan Singh. Dharam Singh and Tejveer Singh, both from Akali Phoola Singh Gatka Akhara Coventry, shared third place. In the men’s group, Gurdeep Singh of Jangi Horses Club Wolverhampton took first spot without defeating Kuldeep Singh of Baba Banda Singh Gatka Akhara Gravesend. Anmoldeep Singh and Nihal Singh of Baba Mitt Singh Gatka Akhara Wolverhampton jointly took third.
Support for Gatka promotion
All winners received medals and trophies. Every participating Gatka Akhara was moreover given £1,000 by Gatka Federation UK to modernize training and encourage increasingly people to take part. Speaking at the event, Harjeet Singh Grewal praised MP Dhesi for his nonflexible work in organising competitions and promoting Gatka in the UK since 2013. He promised full support from WGF and NGAI to remoter grow the sport in Britain.
Gratitude to organisers
In his speech, MP Dhesi congratulated players and volunteers and thanked the Gurdwara management committees of Swansea and Cardiff for helping make the event a unconfined success. Other important guests included Herman Singh Johal, General Secretary of Gatka Federation UK, Khushwant Singh and Jit Singh Arora from Swansea Gurdwara committee, Sangat Singh Garib from Cardiff Gurdwara committee, Kuldeep Singh Padda, Tarjeet Singh Sandhu, Gurnam Nijjar, Jeetpal Sidhu, Parminder Sujapur, Randhir Randawa, Balbir Brar, Saheb Singh Dhesi, Taran Singh Nihang of Cardiff, Manpreet Singh Badhni Kalan, the Akaal Channel team, Amanjeet Singh of Sikh Channel, Amanjit Singh Khaira of Jan Shakti News and others.
