At five, most children are still learning to tie their shoelaces or ride a bicycle. Fateh Singh Gill, from Amritsar in Punjab, is already balancing on skates while performing Gatka, the traditional Sikh martial art, on international stages.
His latest achievement came at the World Martial Art Games 2026 in Pattaya, Thailand, where he won a gold medal in Gatka on Skates. Reports have described him as the first child to perform the traditional martial art on skates at the event, combining speed, balance and weapon control in an unusual display.
Fateh’s journey began much earlier. His mother, Navpreet Kaur, has said that his father, Ramandeep Singh, first noticed his unusually quick wrist movements when Fateh was about two years old. Ramandeep, himself an athlete with experience of bodybuilding competitions in Europe, believed that his son’s coordination might suit Gatka and encouraged him to practise.
By the age of three, Fateh was training regularly. His family has described the effort involved in supporting such a young child: during the cold Amritsar winter, his mother carried food, diapers and other essentials to training sessions. Videos of his performances were shared online and gradually helped draw attention to his talent.
His first major overseas success came in Europe in 2024. At about three-and-a-half years old, Fateh won recognition at the World Grand Prix Fit Kid Championship and the Mr Universal Fit Kid Championship. He was later honoured by a Punjab cabinet minister, performed internationally in Singapore in December 2024 and was named a Super Hero Award 2025 title-holder in the sports category by Forever Star India.
The path to those appearances was not entirely smooth. Fateh’s family has spoken about visa difficulties, travel costs and the practical challenges of taking such a young child abroad for competitions. Yet his parents continued to support his training and performances. His mother has repeatedly presented his progress not simply as a pursuit of medals, but as an example of recognising a child’s natural interest early and giving it space to develop.
That support remains central to his story. Fateh is far too young for anyone to know what kind of athlete or performer he may eventually become. His parents have said they are not imposing a rigid career plan and are instead responding to opportunities as they arise.
What makes his rise striking is not only his age. Gatka is an important part of Sikh martial heritage, traditionally involving disciplined movements with sticks and other weapons. By performing it on skates, Fateh has given the art an unusual contemporary presentation and helped introduce it to audiences far beyond Punjab.
There is also a broader lesson in his story. Exceptional childhood achievement can easily become spectacle. Fateh’s case is more interesting when seen as a combination of natural ability, sustained practice and family involvement. His medals are impressive, but the greater challenge will be ensuring that training remains safe, enjoyable and suitable for his age as expectations grow.
For now, Fateh Singh Gill remains a five-year-old with an unusual combination of skills: part martial artist, part performer and already an international gold medallist. From training sessions in Amritsar to the podium in Pattaya, his journey has carried Gatka into an arena few would have imagined — on four wheels and in the hands of one of its youngest performers.
