Chandigarh (Face2News)

The office bearers of the Gatka Federation UK and Guru Nanak Satsang Sikh Temple, Wolverhampton has decided to hold this year's 7th UK Gatka Championship-2019 at Guru Nanak Satsang Sikh Temple, Cannock Road, Wolverhampton on Saturday September 21.

After this meeting held at the British Parliament to discuss preparations for this Gatka championship, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (Slough), who has been serving as the founder President of Gatka Federation UK for the last seven years, informed that in this annual national championship more than dozen Akharas (teams) from different towns would take part. "Commencing in 2013 with Gravesend, this national Gatka event had been organised at Derby (2014), Southall (2015), Smethwick (Birmingham) 2016, Ilford (London) 2017 and Slough (2018)", he added.

After this meeting held at the British Parliament to discuss preparations for this Gatka championship, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (Slough), who has been serving as the founder President of Gatka Federation UK for the last seven years, informed that in this annual national championship more than dozen Akharas (teams) from different towns would take part. "Commencing in 2013 with Gravesend, this national Gatka event had been organised at Derby (2014), Southall (2015), Smethwick (Birmingham) 2016, Ilford (London) 2017 and Slough (2018)", he added.

Dhesi remarked “I’m delighted that for the first time Wolverhampton will be the host city. This is very much a family occasion and provides girls and boys, along with men and women, the platform to show their prowess of this centuries old Sikh martial art. In addition to the Cannock Road Gurdwara Committee, I would like to thank the Gatka Federation UK Secretary Herman Singh Johal and the entire Committee, who put in so much hard work to make this a reality, adding he said any UK based team that would like to participate should contact us.”

President of Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara Balraj Singh Atwal said, “It’s an honour for our Gurdwara to host the UK Gatka Championship and we have been looking forward to it since we requested last year to take this seva (service). It will be a free family event, open to all, with langar (community kitchen food) and refreshments served throughout the day, in addition to other activities. Anyone who would like to volunteer, or for local businesses who wish to be a sponsor, please contact us. I would urge everyone to attend and show their support for Gatka.”

Among others present in the meeting included Harnek Singh Merrypuria sports promoter, Gurmit Singh Sidhu Gurdwara General Secretary, Herman Singh Johal Secretary, Gatka Federation UK and Avtar Singh Chairman, Council of Gurdwara Management Committees UK.