10th UK Gatka Championship hailed a 'great success'

The event was hosted at the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Hall of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Derby Gurdwara.

The recently elected Chair of the UK Defence Committee, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP for Slough, who is President of Gatka Federation UK, thanked the community for their support, as the event has been running for decade.

MP Dhesi poses with the management team at the 10th Gatka Championship (Image: Gatka Championships)

He also thanked the volunteers and supporters from Gurdwara Singh Sabha Derby, Gurdwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Derby and the National Sikh Museum.

He emphasised the need to further promote the Sikh martial art Gatka and Shastar Vidya, for which efforts are ongoing.

Officials and participants were thanked for their involvement with the event.

Sikh youths and women from nine different Gatka teams, representing various cities, displayed their skills according to Khalsa traditions.

The event began with Shabad Kirtan and Ardaas, followed by the Gatka contests.

Teams competed for first place at the Gatka Championships (Image: Gatka Championships)

Competitions were held for children, women, and men of various age groups.

In the 12 to 14 age group, the Damdami Taksal Derby team secured first place, and Akali Baba Ajit Singh Akhara Manchester secured second place.

Among the girls, Gursukhman Kaur from Akali Phoola Singh Coventry was first, and Jeea Kaur from Akali Baba Ajit Singh Warrington was second.

In the 15 to 17 age group for girls, Damdami Taksal Derby won first place, and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Derby team was runner-up.

Among the boys, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur team won first place, while Damdami Taksal Derby was the runner-up.

In the women’s competition, Damdami Taksal Derby secured first place and Baba Fateh Singh Akhara Gravesend took second.

In the men’s competition, Damdami Taksal Derby’s Singhs won both first and second prizes.

Jagjit Singh from Canada and veteran Ustad Ranjit Singh also displayed their Gatka skills.

Notable attendees at the event included Catherine Atkinson MP, Baggy Shankar MP, Councillor Hardyal Singh Dhindsa (former Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner), Councillor Harjinder Singh Gahir, Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, renowned Punjabi singer Nirmal Sidhu, writer Ashok Bansal, Sokha Dhesi, Nishan Singh Slough, Taranjit Singh Dhesi Birmingham, Harjinder Singh Mandair, Sarabjit Singh, Tarlochan Singh Virk, Baljit Singh, Bhai Lakhvir Singh, Manpreet Singh Badhni Kalan, Amanjit Singh Khaira (Jan Shakti), Akaal Channel, Sikh Channel and others.