Meet Fateh Singh Gill: 5-year-old Punjab boy who became a world martial arts champion performing traditional Sikh martial art

Fateh Singh Gill is five years old, from Amritsar, Punjab, and a world martial arts champion.

In June 2026, the boy won gold in Gatka on Skates at the World Martial Art Games 2026 in Pattaya, Thailand, becoming the first child to perform the traditional Sikh martial art on skates at an international competition. His mother, Navpreet Kaur, spoke to the Times of India about how the family got there.

What is Gatka, the Sikh martial art?


Gatka is a traditional Sikh martial art that involves coordinated sword movements, footwork, and physical discipline rooted in the Sikh warrior tradition. It is practised primarily in Punjab and has been performed at cultural and religious events for centuries. Fateh's version at the World Martial Art Games added another layer: he performed it on skates, a combination no child had attempted at that level before.

When Fateh performed in Thailand, teams from Sri Lanka, West Bengal, and several other countries were competing, each presenting their own form of martial art. Fateh represented Gatka. According to his mother, the judges were initially uncertain about allowing a child so young to perform with a sword on stage. They permitted it. He won gold.

How did Fateh Singh Gill start Gatka at age 2?

Fateh's father, Ramandeep Singh, is an athlete who has competed in bodybuilding competitions in Europe. When Fateh was two years old, Ramandeep noticed something specific in his son's hand movements. As Navpreet told TOI, "Our Fateh is blessed with special hand movement. When he was 2, his father noticed that he had a very gifted wristwork perfect for Gatka. So what he did was to customize a kirpan for Fateh. Fateh started practicing with them."

The family began posting videos of Fateh performing Gatka online. Those videos caught the attention of someone connected to a European martial arts championship, leading to the first international opportunity.

How did Fateh train and what did it cost the family?

Training for the European competition began when Fateh was around three years old and continued for three to four months through winter in Amritsar. Navpreet told TOI she would carry diapers, food, and other essentials to the training ground because he was too young to eat on his own.

"It was winter and it was very cold in Amritsar. But Fateh used to practice daily. I don't know how a little kid like him had such drive and determination to do that daily," she told TOI.

The family's visa process ahead of that first European trip also brought an unexpected setback. Navpreet's visa was not approved before travel. "When mine did not get approved, I cried a lot. I thought, how can a mother leave her child? He was very young," she told TOI. Fateh travelled to Lithuania with his father.

What happened at Fateh's first international competition?

The family's expectations going into the Lithuania competition were limited. Navpreet told TOI: "We had only one thought: he is a small child, so he should just perform well. He should perform among the foreign children. That was our only expectation."

She watched through a video call from home. "I had tears in my eyes and was praying to God. And when this child performed there, I cried. Everyone stood up. Nobody there knew what Gatka was. When he performed, his father was asked by everyone, 'What is this child doing?'"

Fateh was declared the overall champion in his group. "At first, we did not even understand what had happened," Navpreet told TOI.

That win at age 3.5 led to another competition in a neighbouring country, which he also won. He subsequently performed in Singapore, where he received recognition from local communities and businesses. By the time the World Martial Art Games 2026 came around, Fateh had already competed across multiple countries.

How did Fateh reach the World Martial Art Games 2026 in Thailand?

The Thailand opportunity came through Ramandeep scrolling through his phone one day and coming across the World Martial Art Games listing for Pattaya. The family registered Fateh. He was accepted.

At the event, Fateh competed against teams representing various countries and martial art forms. He won gold in Gatka on Skates, the first child to do so.

Upcoming performances include trips to Singapore in December 2026 and Malaysia in January 2027, where he will perform for Sikh communities, according to Navpreet.

What does Fateh's mother say about raising a child prodigy?

Navpreet's message to other parents, as she told TOI, centres on recognition over ambition. "Every child has some talent. Parents just need to recognise it."

On the family's own approach, she said: "We don't think about the money. We don't think about travelling late at night or the difficulties. The biggest thing is to support your children."

On the future, she told TOI the family is not mapping anything out. "We just believe in God. Whatever we think will happen does not always happen. If we leave it to God, maybe He will do something even better for us."

(With inputs from Times of India)