Sikhs selected from Gurdwara comp medal at British Powerlifting Championships

In an encouraging sign of the impact of Sikh org effort to get sangat (Sikh congregation) into sport and fitness, five Sikhs, selected from a Gurdwara competition, medaled at the British Powerlifting Championships last month.

The national event, held from 18th-19th of May in Coventry, saw two Kaur (Sikh females) and three Singh (Sikh males)
athletes rise to the occasion, earning top honours in their respective categories. The athletes were chosen from the Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gym (GAD Gym, Derby, UK) powerlifting competition held last year, an event which is proving to be a significant stepping stone for Sikh athletes to take their talents to a national level.

The GAD Gym team members, representing their community for the first time at the BPF British
Championships, brought home the following results:

• Harshani Kaur Dhanda (22) competed in the Women’s category
• Sarabjit Kaur Nath competed in the Women’s Masters category and placed first
• Avtar Singh Jawanda competed in the Men’s Masters category and placed first
• Ranjit Singh Ranu (18) competed in the Juniors 16-19 category and placed first
• Harsahib Singh Sudle (20) competed in the 71.5kg BW category and placed first
•  Taranjit Singh Pandher (23) competed in the 97.6kg BW category and placed first

Harsahib Singh and Taranjit Singh broke the British Record for Deadlifts in their respective weight categories, with Harsahib lifting with 252.5kg and Taranjit lifting 255kg. The team’s exceptional performance was widely praised by Sikh community members. The GAD Gym team, expressed their immense pride for the competitors, saying in an online statement: “We are super proud of all our competitors who have trained so hard and put our community on the map by stepping up into National Level regulated competition.”

Ranjit Singh Ranu, one of the standout performers, shared his thoughts on competing at a national level for the first time, saying “It was a surreal opportunity. From lifting weights and competing in the local Gurdwara gym competitions to competing on a national stage was a big jump. It felt amazing to be a part of it.”

He further emphasised the role of the GAD Gym competition in his journey, “Without the GAD gym Gurdwara competition, I would never have got the opportunity to do this competition. GAD Gym is the foundation of my powerlifting journey.”

Taranjit Singh Pandher also reflected on his experience, saying “I won’t lie, I was very nervous leading up to the competition, but seeing the support on the day got rid of all my nerves. It was a rewarding day as I showcased all the work I had put in over the last few months. What made it even better was doing it alongside other Sikhs with the same goals.”

Taranjit also highlighted the impact of the GAD Gym Gurdwara competition, “The GAD competition inspired not only myself but others to compete in powerlifting. The support of the Gurdwara allowed us to be invited to an official competition. I am now very passionate about this sport and can’t thank GAD Gurdwara enough for their events.”

Both athletes are optimistic about the future of UK Sikhs in powerlifting. Ranjit believes that “the future of UK Sikhs in powerlifting is up and coming.” Taranjit added, “I know we can definitely get more UK Sikhs to compete professionally. This is only the start for many of us, and I’m proud of everyone that competed on the day.”

The success of these athletes at the British Powerlifting Championships not only empowers the Sikh community but also paves the way for future Sikh powerlifters. The GAD Gym’s initiative in promoting powerlifting through local competitions has proven to be a catalyst for national success, helping to lead the way for Sikhs in sport in the UK and beyond.