At simply 5, Fateh Singh Gill from Amritsar, Punjab, has already carried out on among the largest worldwide phases. The younger martial arts prodigy just lately received a gold medal in Gatka on Skates on the World Martial Artwork Video games 2026 in Pattaya, Thailand, turning into the primary youngster to carry out the normal Sikh martial artwork on skates.However this journey began when Fateh was simply two years previous, when his mother and father seen one thing particular in his hand actions and determined to present his curiosity an opportunity. Fateh has additionally received the World Grand Prix Match Child and Mr. Common Match Child titles in Europe when he was simply 3.5 years previous. He has since carried out internationally in Singapore and Thailand.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:22
How do you train kids about cash and monetary accountability?
Behind these achievements is a household that has travelled with him, educated with him and supported him by way of each problem. Chatting with TOI, Fateh’s mom, Navpreet Kaur, opened up about his journey, the sacrifices concerned and why she believes mother and father ought to acknowledge their kids’s pure skills.
“A mom ought to do good deeds whereas she is pregnant”
Fateh’s story, in response to his mom, started even earlier than he was born. Throughout the Covid interval, when Navpreet was pregnant with him, her mom gave her some recommendation that stayed together with her. In a dialog with TOI, Fateh’s mom Navpreet Kaur says, “It was Covid time, and I used to be pregnant with Fateh. My mom instructed me at the moment, ‘A mom ought to do good deeds whereas she is pregnant, it’ll reap profit sooner or later for her youngster.’”The household additionally visited a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. At the same time as a toddler, Fateh confirmed an curiosity in spiritual music and prayers. “Whereas watching the TV, 2 yr previous Fateh used to take heed to Gurbani on spiritual channels.”
His father seen one thing particular when he was solely 2
Fateh together with his father Ramandeep. (Instagram/@singhfitkid19)
Fateh’s father Ramandeep Singh is an athlete himself and has participated in bodybuilding competitions in Europe. That background additionally influenced how the couple thought of their son’s pursuits. Speaking about Fateh’s father, she says, “My husband himself is an athlete. He participated in bodybuilding competitions in Europe as effectively. As a result of he’s an athlete, we had comparable ideas for our child as effectively.”It was Fateh’s father Ramandeep who first seen one thing uncommon in his hand actions. Navpreet says, “Our Fateh is blessed with particular hand motion. When he was 2, his father seen that he had a really gifted wristwork good for Gatka (a standard Sikh martial artwork). So what he did was to customise a kirpan (particular dagger worn by Sikhs) for Fateh. Fateh began training with them.”She says additional, “When Fateh was 2.5 years previous, we thought possibly he’ll go into sports activities as soon as he’s 10-11 however we didn’t suppose at the moment about how younger he would obtain all this in Sikh martial arts.” The household started posting movies of Fateh performing Gatka on-line. At some point, these movies caught the eye of somebody related to a European martial arts championship.
He educated by way of the chilly
Fateh and his father then started getting ready for the competitors. The coaching lasted for a number of months. “His father and he began coaching and did so for 3-4 months. The competitors was in Might, 2024.”The climate was one other problem. “It was winter and it was very chilly in Amritsar. However Fateh used to follow every day. I don’t understand how just a little child like him had such drive and dedication to try this every day. He’s absolutely gifted by god I really feel.”At simply three years previous, Fateh additionally wanted fixed care throughout coaching. “As a mom I took diapers, meals and different necessities to his coaching place. As a result of he was so little, 3 at the moment, he couldn’t eat himself.”For the household, the kid’s effort was motive sufficient to assist him. “For 3 or 4 months, this youngster labored very exhausting. The mother and father additionally needed to assist him. We determined that we might not cease him due to any situation or state of affairs.”
When the visa grew to become an issue
Navpreet says she was heartbroken when her visa was not authorized.
The primary worldwide competitors introduced one other problem: the visa. “Till April 2024, there was no query of his visa. There was no interview deliberate. Then instantly, every thing occurred. We had carried out every thing after which an interview got here. We went there and the interview occurred. I didn’t get cleared as a result of there have been some points. It was my first time as effectively. His father had travelled many instances earlier than.”Navpreet says she was heartbroken when her visa was not authorized. “When mine didn’t get authorized and I cried so much. I believed, how can a mom depart her youngster? He was very younger. The daddy is accountable, after all, however a mom is a mom. I had by no means been away from my youngster.”There was one other concern, the climate and the truth that Fateh was nonetheless so younger. “They have been going to a spot the place this can be very chilly in Europe, the place there could be snow. I used to be nervous about how the kid would handle. Then my husband mentioned, ‘I shall be with him and he wouldn’t face any problem, I promise.’”
They didn’t count on him to win
When the household lastly went for the competitors, their expectations have been easy. They weren’t interested by medals or titles. “We had just one thought: he’s a small youngster, so he ought to simply carry out effectively. He ought to carry out among the many overseas kids, identical to when Indian kids go to exhibits akin to America’s Acquired Expertise. You’re feeling so pleased and proud while you see an Indian youngster performing there. That was our solely expectation.”Navpreet watched her son carry out by way of a video name. “I used to be watching on a video name. I had tears in my eyes and was praying to God. And when this youngster carried out there, I cried. Everybody stood up. No one there knew what Gatka was. We had gone to Lithuania. When he carried out, his father was requested by everybody, “What is that this youngster doing?” They have been asking in regards to the sword and all of the completely different actions. They mentioned they’d by no means seen something like this.”The competitors included kids from completely different international locations, every showcasing a special ability. “There have been kids from completely different international locations within the championship. Each youngster was displaying one thing. Then, among the many kids in his group, he was declared the general champion.”For the mother and father, the outcome got here as a shock. “At first, we didn’t even perceive what had occurred.”
One competitors led to a different
The younger performer later travelled to Singapore as effectively and acquired recognition.
The win opened one other alternative for Fateh. One other competitors was being held in a special nation, which concerned round six hours of journey. “Then there was one other competitors abroad. There was round six hours of journey. The president there mentioned that the kid ought to carry out there too. Naturally, there could be journey prices and different bills, and every thing may be very costly there. So that they mentioned that if he had already come this far and had received, why not let him take part in one other competitors as effectively?”Fateh went on to take part in one other World Championship. “There additionally, by God’s grace, he got here first,” she instructed TOI.The younger performer later travelled to Singapore as effectively and acquired recognition from completely different individuals. “After that, he went to Singapore. So many issues have occurred in between. There have been additionally enterprise individuals and others who gave him recognition.”
From a telephone discovery to the World Martial Artwork Video games
Fateh went on to win gold in Gatka on Skates on the World Martial Artwork Video games 2026 in Pattaya.
The chance to compete in Thailand got here in a moderately surprising method. “At some point, his father was scrolling by way of his telephone, as all of us do, and he noticed the World Martial Arts occasion in Thailand, in Pattaya. They requested about him. We registered him, and so they mentioned okay. So now he was there in June for the martial arts occasion.”The organizers have been initially not sure about permitting such a younger youngster to carry out with a sword. “We instructed the judges that he would carry out Gatka. They mentioned, “He’s such a small youngster. How will he deal with a sword? How will he carry out on stage?”“However they allowed him. They mentioned, “It’s okay. Regardless of the stage is, let him carry out.” There have been groups from Sri Lanka and West Bengal too. There have been many groups. Everybody had their very own type of martial arts. We had Gatka.”Fateh went on to win gold in Gatka on Skates on the World Martial Artwork Video games 2026 in Pattaya.
“Each youngster has some expertise”
For Navpreet, Fateh’s journey is in the end about greater than medals. She believes mother and father have to recognise what their kids are naturally good at and provides them the arrogance to pursue it.“Individuals consider in him, and his father and I additionally consider that God has blessed us with this chance. So we do not wish to step again. No matter we will do, we do. We do not take into consideration the cash. We do not take into consideration travelling late at evening or the difficulties. When somebody asks us in an interview, we at all times say one factor first: it’s God’s grace. He created the trail for us. When the trail grew to become seen, we didn’t step again. The most important factor is to assist your kids. Each youngster has some expertise. Mother and father simply have to recognise it.”
What does the longer term maintain for Fateh?
For now, the household shouldn’t be making an attempt to map out Fateh’s whole future. They’re taking alternatives as they arrive. “As for the longer term, we do not actually have something deliberate. Every time we get a name, we go. We’re going to Singapore in December. In January, we’ll go to Malaysia. There’s a programme in Malaysia. In December, his father shall be there for 4 days for the programme. There are previous Sikh communities there, and he’ll carry out there as effectively.”Has the household thought of what Fateh may do when he grows up, particularly after attaining a lot at such a younger age? “Proper now, we have not actually thought of it. We simply consider in God. No matter we expect will occur doesn’t at all times occur. If we attempt to manifest one thing, possibly it’ll occur. But when we depart it to God, possibly He’ll do one thing even higher for us,” Navpreet instructed TOI.For now, the five-year-old continues to coach, journey and carry out. Whereas his mother and father deal with doing what they consider issues most: recognising his expertise and giving him the liberty and assist to discover it.
