Punjab reigns supreme at 2nd Federation Gatka Cup, Haryana in valiant pursuit

Chandigarh, November 11, 2025 : The air crackled with fierce strikes of sticks as the Punjab Gatka team ascended to the pinnacle of martial arts prowess, seizing the overall championship title at the prestigious 2nd Federation Gatka Cup. In a spectacular display of tradition and tenacity, the contingent from Punjab left an indelible mark on the tournament, held at the Bengaluru City University campus. Their arch-rivals, the formidable Gatkabaz from Haryana, mounted a fierce challenge, ultimately securing a commendable position as the overall runners-up in a martial art competition that showcased the very best of this ancient discipline.

The two-day spectacle, a cornerstone of the 2nd National Cultural Pythian Games -2025, was a theater of unwavering focus, constant gazing at opponents and striking with masterful techniques of Gatka-Soti. Punjab’s male Gatkabaz demonstrated sheer dominance to clinch the top honor in the boys’ category while the Haryana girls’ in a parallel show of skill and spirit, claimed the championship title for their division. The contest for the remaining podium spots was equally intense, with Haryana’s boys and Punjab’s girls finishing as worthy runners-up. Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, tied for third place among the boys events sharing the bronze medals. Similarly Chandigarh and Andhra Pradesh achieved a joint third-place finish in the girls’ events.

The championship commenced amidst great fanfare inaugurated by Bijender Goel, Chairman of the Pythian Council of India. The event was set against a vibrant backdrop of systematic contests infusing the arena with cultural grandeur. The semifinal bouts were set into motion by B.H. Anil Kumar, IAS, Chairman of the Organising Committee, lending significant stature to the contests. Bringing the final day’s climactic clashes to a start was Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the National Gatka Association of India, underscoring the sport’s growing institutional support.

The occasion was graced by a host of distinguished dignitaries and senior officials including Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, Jaspreet Singh Saini, Jagdish Singh, Aarthi Diwan, Sreejith Surendra, and coach Venugopal Velloli. The administrative backbone of the sport was well-managed by Gatka technical officials such as Harnam Singh, Harsimran Singh, Amritpal Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Sharry Singh, Narinderpal Singh, and Aman Singh from Chhattisgarh, whose collective officiating highlighted the unifying spirit and administrative vigor propelling Gatka onto the national stage.

Punjab lifts overall championship at 2nd National Cultural Pythian Games, Haryana finishes overall runner-up

Punjab boys and Haryana girls emerge champions in their respective categories

Chandigarh, November 9, 2025 – Displaying best skills, precision and true martial spirit Punjab once again proved its dominance by clinching the overall Gatka championship at the 2nd National Cultural Pythian Games–2025 here held at Bengaluru City University campus, Karnataka. Haryana secured the runner-up position making the event a gripping showcase of India’s traditional martial art Gatka which was one of the key attractions of the Pythian Games.

Over two days of intense and thrilling bouts Punjab’s boys and Haryana’s girls demonstrated unwavering focus and masterful martial technique to claim the top titles in their respective categories. The Haryana boys and Punjab girls finished runners-up while Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh shared third place among the boys and Chandigarh and Andhra Pradesh jointly secured third place among the girls events.

The Gatka competition was inaugurated by Bijender Goel, founder of the Modern Pythian Cultural Games and Chairman of the Pythian Council of India amidst great enthusiasm and vibrant traditional performances. Later, the semifinal bouts were inaugurated by B.H. Anil Kumar, IAS, Chairman of the Organising Committee of 2nd National Cultural Pythian Games.

The final Gatka bouts on the concluding day were inaugurated by Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of National Gatka Association of India (NGAI) who praised the Gatkabaz for displaying exemplary sportsmanship and discipline. He remarked that the performances reflected the living legacy of martial heritage where courage and grace go hand in hand.

The ceremony was graced by Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, Jaspreet Singh Saini, Aarthi Diwan, Sreejith Surendra and coach Venugopal Velloli (Bengaluru) and senior Gatka officials including Jagdish Singh, Harnam Singh, Harsimran Singh, Amritpal Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Sharry Singh, Narinderpal Singh, and Aman Singh Chhattisgarh.

Girls’ Results : 

In the Gatka-Soti team event, Haryana’s Ashmeet Kaur, Jaskirat Kaur, and Arjmeet Kaur clinched the gold medals while Punjab’s Damanpreet Kaur, Ramanpreet Kaur and Pavneet Kaur took silver. The Chandigarh team of Guramanpreet Kaur, Navdeep Kaur and Ravneet Kaur and Andhra Pradesh’s Badepalli Deek Shitha, Kadiyala Bala Chandana Priya and G. Deephi shared bronze medals.

In the Gatka-Soti individual event, Pavneet Kaur (Punjab) won gold, Harmanpreet Kaur (Chandigarh) took silver while Badepalli Deek Shitha (Andhra Pradesh) and Kashmir Kaur (Haryana) jointly claimed bronze.

In the Farrie-Soti team event, Haryana’s Ekamjot Kaur, Arjmeet Kaur and Harsimarpreet Kaur secured gold medals. Chandigarh’s Jeenal, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jashanpreet Kaur earned silver while Punjab’s Mehakdeep Kaur, Ramandeep Kaur and Prabhleen Kaur and Chhattisgarh’s Nidhi, Vidhi and Dimple jointly bagged bronze.

In the Farrie-Soti individual event, Gursimran Kaur (Punjab) clinched gold followed by Arjmeet Kaur (Haryana) with silver while M. Dhathri Moghadaramma (Andhra Pradesh) and Jashanpreet Kaur (Chandigarh) shared bronze.

Boys’ Results :

In the Gatka-Soti individual event, Jaskirat Singh (Haryana) emerged gold medalist, Arshdeep Singh (Punjab) claimed silver and Prabhasees Singh (Punjab) with Jagjot Singh (Uttarakhand) shared bronze.

In the Gatka-Soti team event, Uttarakhand’s Rajwinder Singh, Jagjot Singh and Abhijot Singh stormed to gold followed by Punjab’s Narinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Prabhasees Singh with silver. Haryana’s Rajbir Singh, Simranpreet Singh and Armandeep Singh and Chhattisgarh’s Gurpreet Singh, Gurjot Singh and Samrath Singh took bronze medals.

In the Farrie-Soti individual event, Varispreet Singh (Haryana) won gold, Jaskaran Singh (Punjab) secured silver while Hardeep Singh (Telangana) and Abhijot Singh (Uttarakhand) shared bronze medals.

In the Farrie-Soti team event, Punjab’s Gursharan Singh, Amanpreet Singh and Jaskaran Singh bagged gold, Haryana’s Ajaypal Singh, Sehajpal Singh and Samarjeet Singh claimed silver while Chandigarh’s Satwant Singh, Manpreet Singh and Bahadur Singh and Haryana’s Anmoldeep Singh, Jaskirat Singh and Varispreet Singh took bronze medals jointly.

2nd Federation Gatka Cup commences at Bengaluru : first International Pythian Games in Russia in 2026 : Bijender Goel

Haryanvi girls clinch 8 gold medals in Gatka Soti and Farrie Soti team events

Bengaluru, November 7, 2025 – The 2nd Federation Gatka Cup – 2025 was inaugurated today here at Bengaluru City University, Bengaluru, by Bijender Goel, founder of Modern Pythian Cultural Games and Chairman of the Pythian Council of India (PCI). The inaugural ceremony was attended by Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), B.H. Anil Kumar, Chairman of Pythian Games Organising Committee, Sneha Venkatramani along with office bearers, Gatka officials and participating athletes from across the country.
Earlier to this the 2nd National Pythian Cultural Games were inaugurated by Bijender Goel and other leaders. The ceremony featured vibrant traditional art performances, cultural expressions and an impressive march past by athletes representing various states, reflecting a spirit of unity between India’s diverse cultural forms and its rich martial traditions.
In his address, Bijender Goel announced that the 3rd National Pythian Games next year will be an even larger celebration of India’s creative and sporting spirit. He also revealed that the first International Pythian Cultural Competition is scheduled to be held in Russia in 2026.
Speaking on the occasion Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal, who also serves as vice-president of PCI, stated that the Federation Gatka Cup represents the strength of India’s Gatkabaz and the timeless legacy of the ancient martial art. “It is a proud moment to see Gatka gaining recognition alongside other cultural and artistic expressions at the Pythian Games,” he said.
On the opening day of this annual championship the young Gatka warriors delivered electrifying performances, setting a spirited tone for the national event. In the Girls’ Gatka Soti team event, Haryana emerged as the dominant force, clinching the first position while Punjab secured second place followed by Chandigarh and Andhra Pradesh sharing the third position. Demonstrating exceptional skill and coordination the Haryana girls continued their winning streak in the Farrie Soti team event once again bagging the top spot with Chandigarh taking second place and Punjab and Chhattisgarh finished jointly in third position.
Among those present at the inaugural ceremony were Sukhchain Singh, vice president of International Sikh Martial Art Council, Aarthi Diwan, President of Gatka Association of Karnataka, M Surendra Reddy, general secretary Gatka Association Andhra Pradesh, Jagdish Singh Amritsar and Gatka officials Jaspreet Singh Ropar, Jashanpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Harnam Singh, Harsimran Singh, Sharry Singh, Narinderpal Singh and Aman Singh Chhattisgarh along with coaches and dignitaries from various states.

Gatkabaz poised for spectacular three-day Gatka showdown in Bengaluru from November 7

National Gatka Association to host prestigious 2nd Federation Cup amidst grandeur of 2nd National Pythian Games

Gatka gold medalists to secure coveted berths for International Pythian Cultural Games in Moscow

Chandigarh, October 25, 2025 : Bengaluru is poised to transform into the vibrant epicenter of India’s ancient martial arts and rich cultural traditions, as the nation’s most exceptional sports talents and cultural virtuosos converge for a monumental national gathering from November 7 to 9, 2025. The prestigious event, 2nd National Cultural Pythian Games, promises to shape the future trajectory of the sport across the country.
During this exhilarating sporting extravaganza at the GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), the oldest national Gatka governing body affiliated with World Gatka Federation and Asian Gatka Federation, would host its 2nd Federation Gatka Cup. This event would be held concurrently with 2nd National Cultural Pythian Games, in a strategic partnership with the Pythian Council of India (PCI). This dual event is meticulously designed to propel the ancient game of Gatka onto a prominent global platform, he added.
The PCI chairman Bijender Goel and president Shantanu Agrahari commended the extensive collaboration with all traditional sports and cultural organizations, hailing the Pythian Games as a landmark initiative that empowers indigenous sports and forges structured pathways for aspiring young athletes to ascend on the international stage. The PCI would provide logistical support, accommodation, meals and official tournament kits, thereby ensuring impeccable professional standards are maintained throughout the prestigious competition.
Disclosing this, the NGAI president Harjeet Singh Grewal, a State Awardee, announced that during this dual championship, the NGAI would select a national Gatka squad. These Gatkabaz would represent the nation at India’s debut in 1st International Pythian Cultural Games in Moscow next year. He elaborated that participants would not only fiercely vie for medals but would also be honored with dual certification.
Gatka promoter Grewal, who also serves as vice-president of PCI, confirmed that the competitions would showcase formidable under-19 Gatka events from over ten states, who would demonstrate their prowess across in Gatka-Soti and Farrie-Soti disciplines in both individual and team formats. He further added that all gold medalists would be granted direct selection into the Indian contingent for the first International Pythian Cultural Games, describing it as a transformative milestone in Gatka’s illustrious global journey.
“This championship marks a defining chapter in Gatka’s progress, from a revered traditional martial art to a recognized international sport,” stated Sukhchain Singh, acting president of NGAI, emphasizing that it is not merely a competition but a resounding statement of India’s profound cultural confidence and exceptional athletic excellence.
He added that since its founding in 2004, the NGAI has tirelessly championed the preservation, regulation and modernization of this ancient martial discipline. Through dynamic international collaborations and visionary initiatives like the Pythian Games partnership, the NGAI seeks to irrevocably embed Gatka within the global sporting landscape while meticulously safeguarding its profound spiritual and cultural ethos.
Concluding, Harjeet Singh Grewal declared, “This integrated championship is a watershed moment for Gatka. We are not merely organizing a tournament; we are launching India’s distinguished Gatka ambassadors onto the world stage, where revered tradition magnificently meets triumphant glory.” He added that the thrilling display of impeccable Gatka skills, unwavering discipline, and masterful martial artistry will powerfully symbolize India’s dynamic living cultural legacy on the world stage.

NGAI hosts 13th National Gatka Championship at Chhattisgarh from October 10

Chandigarh, October 2, 2025: The National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), affiliated with World Gatka Federation and Asian Gatka Federation, is organising its 13th National Gatka (Men and Women) Championship from October 12 to 14, 2025 at Guru Nanak English Senior Secondary School, Bhilai, district Durg in Chhattisgarh. This national level martial arts tournament is being organised in association with New Gatka Sports Association Chhattisgarh and would feature participation of Gatka teams from various states competing in a series of thrilling individual and team events in Gatka Soti and Farrie-Soti over three days.

                Starting more about the event, Harjeet Singh Grewal, State Awardee and president of the NGAI, said the championship is being organized with the objective of preserving, promoting and professionalizing the traditional Sikh martial art of Gatka, while providing a national platform for emerging athletes to showcase their talent.

                He said “This championship is part of our long-term ‘Vision Document–2030’ to elevate Gatka from a traditional martial art to an internationally recognized sport. Our aim is to make it Olympic-ready by enhancing technical standards, ensuring gender equality through mixed combat events and adopting IT-based tournament management systems.”

                Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, acting president and Harjinder Kumar, general secretary of the NGAI, added, “We are committed to providing our youth with safe, competitive platforms to celebrate our heritage. This championship is a testament to the growing popularity of Gatka and our association’s efforts to promote it at national and global levels.”

                Gatka promoter Grewal informed that opening ceremony would be held on October 10 while the concluding ceremony on October 12 would honour top-performing athletes with medals, trophies, and certificates. The NGAI warmly invites sports enthusiasts, cultural patrons and the general public to witness the electrifying bouts and support India’s Gatka warriors in this historic event.

11th UK National Gatka Championship concludes on high note near Cardiff – first ever in Wales: Tan Dhesi MP

Gatka Federation UK presents £1,000 each to all participating Gatka Akharas for martial art promotion

Roop Kaur, Navjot Singh and Gurdeep Singh won first positions

Cardiff, September 16, 2025 – The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art skills with passion and flair. Gatka players from seven prominent Gatka Akharas displayed electrifying skills, thrilling the audience with their lightning-fast strikes, moves and graceful techniques.
The championship was inaugurated by chief guest Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of World Gatka Federation (WGF) and National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), alongside Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Member of Parliament from Slough and President of the Gatka Federation UK, Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President Wales Kabaddi Club, Jaspal Singh Dhesi and Kewal Singh Randeva of Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.
Announcing the results, MP Tan Dhesi, who is Chairman of the influential House of Commons Defence Committee, said the annual tournaments highlighted the growing enthusiasm for Gatka sport among the UK’s younger generation.
In the championship all the competitions were held in Farrie-Soti (individual events). In the girls category u-14 years, Roop Kaur of Akali Phoola Singh Gatka Akhara Coventry secured first place by defeating her teammate Manroop Kaur. The third prize went to Rihanna Kaur of Baba Banda Singh Gatka Akhara Gravesend.
In the boys category u-17 years, Navjot Singh of Baba Fateh Singh Gatka Akhara Woolwich emerged victorious against fellow Akhara player Jashan Singh. Dharam Singh and Tejveer Singh, both from Akali Phoola Singh Gatka Akhara Coventry, shared the third spot.
In the men’s category above 18 years age, Gurdeep Singh of Jangi Horses Club Wolverhampton claimed first position after overcoming Kuldeep Singh of Baba Banda Singh Gatka Akhara Gravesend. Anmoldeep Singh and Nihal Singh, both representing Baba Mitt Singh Gatka Akhara Wolverhampton, jointly bagged third place.
All the winners were honoured with medals and trophies, while all participating Gatka Akharas received generous cash prizes of £1,000 each from the Gatka Federation UK to strengthen training facilities and encourage wider participation.
Speaking at the event, Harjeet Singh Grewal applauded MP Dhesi for his relentless efforts in organising Gatka competitions and promoting Gatka in the UK since 2013. He assured the UK Federation of full support from the WGF and NGAI in further elevating the sport in Britain.
In his address, MP Dhesi congratulated all the participants and volunteers, and expressed gratitude to the Gurdwara management committees of Swansea and Cardiff for their vital role in making the event a resounding success.
Among the dignitaries present on the occasion 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, Akaal Channel team, Amanjeet Singh Sikh Channel, Amanjit Singh Khaira of Jan Shakti News and others.

11th UK National Gatka Championship at Swansea on Sept 14 : Tan Dhesi

Event to witness showcase of discipline, martial skills and cultural heritage : Harjeet Grewal

Chandigarh, September 10, 2025 – The Gatka Federation UK, in association with World Gatka Federation, is going to organise 11th UK National Gatka Championship on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at the Bay Sports Park, Swansea, Wales. Gatka teams from across the UK will participate in this Gatka competition.

Highlighting the importance of series of events in UK, President of the World Gatka Federation and National Gatka Association of India, Harjeet Singh Grewal, State Awardee, said this annual event is also an effort to promote and conserve Sikh culture and martial art among younger people to lead a and healthy lifestyle. “We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and growing participation in Gatka game in UK, a martial art that instills self-control and confidence alongside physical prowess,” Gatka promoter Grewal added.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP from Slough and President of the Gatka Federation UK stated that the event connects youth with their cultural background and encourages a healthy and disciplined lifestyle.

The championship would witness competitions across various age brackets in Gatka Soti and Farrie-Soti, demonstrating the skills and techniques of Gatka players (Gatkabaz) and also feature martial art demonstrations. The event is supported by local Gurdwara Sahib management and the community (Sangat). Appealing the public to join this event, Tan Dhesi said it is free and open to the everyone, offering a family-friendly cultural experience. Langar (community kitchen) and refreshments would be provided, reflecting the Sikh value of selfless service.

Mentionably, Gatka, an integral part of Sikh martial art, is a stick-fighting discipline that combines physical skills,  constant eye-gazing, swift footwork, fitness and spiritual tradition, emphasising self-defense and self-control.