New York Akhara wins 4th US National Gatka Championship
Over 100 Sikh Athletes Participate
Babushahi Bureau
New York (US), October 17, 2026: Baba Fateh Singh Braham Gatka Akhara of New York won the overall championship trophy at the 4th US National Gatka Championship, organised by the New York Gatka Association at the Sikh Center of New York Inc.
Held under the aegis of Gatka Federation USA, the championship brought together more than 100 participants, including Singhs and Kaurs, representing state Gatka associations and akharas from across the United States.
The Pennsylvania Gatka Association finished as runners-up, while Guru Hargobind Sahib Gatka Akhara of Boston, Massachusetts, secured third place.
Gatka Federation USA, which operates under the World Gatka Federation, promotes and works to standardise the traditional Sikh martial art in the United States.
Individual awards and team honours
Manjot Singh of Baba Fateh Singh Braham Gatka Akhara, New York, was named Best Player in the Singhs’ category. Achraj Kaur of Shaheed Bhai Alam Singh Gatka Akhara, North Carolina, received the Best Player award in the Kaurs’ category.
The North Carolina Gatka Association won the Fair Play Team Award. Individual Fair Play awards went to Anahad Singh of the Kansas Gatka Association and Gurnoor Kaur of Shaheed Bhai Alam Singh Gatka Akhara, North Carolina.
Manjot Singh received the Emerging Player Award in the Singhs’ category, while Achraj Kaur was recognised in the Kaurs’ category.
Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Gatka Akhara, New York, won the overall Best Team Award in the Under-14 Demonstration division. Kalgidhar Gatka Akhara, Plainview, received the Most Valuable Team Award.
Competition results
In the Under-22 Single Soti event, Mandeep Singh of Baba Fateh Singh Braham Gatka Akhara, New York, secured first place in the Singhs’ category, followed by Supreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh, both from New York.
In the Kaurs’ category, Jasjot Kaur of the New York Gatka Association won first place. Anshjot Kaur of Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gatka Akhara, New York, finished second, while Simran Kaur of New York took third place.
In the Under-18 Single Soti event, Gurnaman Singh of the Pennsylvania Gatka Association won the Singhs’ category. Manpreet Singh of Akal Gatka Gurmat Group, New York, finished second, followed by Navjot Singh of New York.
Sonampreet Kaur of Guru Hargobind Sahib Gatka Akhara, Boston, won the Kaurs’ category. Seerat Kaur of the Pennsylvania Gatka Association finished second, while Harnidh Kaur of Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gatka Akhara, New York, secured third place.
In the Under-14 Demonstration event, Puneet Singh of Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Gatka Akhara, New York, won the Singhs’ category. Harjas Singh Banwait of Boston finished second, followed by Karanbir Singh of New York.
In the Kaurs’ category, Seerat Kaur and Dilpreet Kaur, both representing Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Gatka Akhara, New York, secured the first and second positions, respectively. Sirat Kaur of Guru Hargobind Sahib Gatka Akhara, Boston, finished third.
Sikh community leaders attend championship
The opening ceremony and prize distribution were attended by Sikh community leaders and representatives of various organisations.
Those present included Kalvinder Singh Fresno, president of Gatka Federation USA and chairman of the World Gatka Federation; Dr Deep Singh, general secretary of the World Gatka Federation; and Himmat Singh, its coordinator.
Representatives of the World Sikh Parliament, Sikh Cultural Society New York, gurdwara management committees and other Sikh organisations also attended the event.
The championship was officiated by a panel led by centre referee Lovepreet Singh Aman of Saskatoon, Canada. Other referees included Karanvir Singh of Malton, Canada, Harbhajan Singh of North Carolina, Karansher Singh of Pennsylvania, Bhai Gagandeep Singh, Sujan Singh of Budha Dal, New York, and Jaskirat Singh.
Dr Harpreet Kaur provided commentary, while a team of organisers and volunteers managed the tournament.
Gatka Federation USA congratulated the medal winners and thanked the volunteers who helped conduct the championship. The federation also reiterated its commitment to promoting Gatka, supporting training academies and encouraging young athletes across the United States.