10th UK Gatka Championship hosted by Singh Sabha Derby was a great success: MP Dhesi
SAMAJ WEEKLY, UK
London – During the 10th UK Gatka Championship at the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Hall of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Derby Gurdwara, Sikh youth and women from 9 different Gatka teams, representing various cities, showcased their skills according to Khalsa traditions. After Shabad Kirtan and Ardaas, the Gatka contests began. 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 was the winner, 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.
Recently elected Chair of the UK Defence Committee, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (Slough), who is President of Gatka Federation UK, stated that with the support of the community, the Gatka Championship has been consistently organised annually for over a decade. He thanked the volunteers and supporters from Gurdwara Singh Sabha Derby, Gurdwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Derby and the National Sikh Museum, emphasising the need to further promote the Sikh martial art Gatka and Shastar Vidya, for which efforts are ongoing.
On this occasion, Herman Singh Johal (General Secretary of Gatka Federation UK), Jaspal Singh Dhesi, Rajinder Singh Purewal, Dr Ranjit Singh Virk, Jasbir Singh Dhillon (President of Gurdwara Guru Arjan Dev Ji), Sukhdev Singh Atwal, Councillor Balbir Singh Sandhu, Daljit Singh Virk, Raminder Singh (Panch Pradhani UK), Bobby Juttla Slough, Manpreet Singh Khalsa, Bikramjeet Singh and Ajaib Singh Garcha were especially thanked.
Notable attendees 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.
