“This victory is not just mine, it’s for every Indian athlete"
Jujhar Singh made history by becoming the first Indian person to win a Power Slap bout.
Nicknamed “Tiger”, Singh competed at Power Slap 16, which was held in Abu Dhabi on October 24, 2025.
The 28-year-old, who comes from a small farming family on the outskirts of Chamkaur Sahib, in Punjab’s Ropar district, defeated Russian heavyweight Anatolii “The Kraken” Galushka in a dramatic three-round battle.
Representing his Sikh faith, Singh wore a turban as he made his way to his match.
The commentators noted that the bout was a big moment for him as a win would lead to instant fame in his home country.
In the opening round, Galushka, known for his brute power and international experience, dominated the scoreboard with clean strikes that briefly unsettled Singh.
The second round saw a turning point when a thunderous slap from the Russian left Singh with a cut near his right eye.
Yet the Punjabi slap fighter’s resilience shone through in the deciding round.
A huge slap staggered Galushka and prompted a huge cheer from Singh, confident that he had done enough to win.
The judges awarded Singh a unanimous decision and known for his showmanship, he broke out into a Bhangra dance, grooving to Panjabi MC’s ‘Mundian To Bach Ke’.
Coming from a humble background, Jujhar Singh grew up in the village of Karura, near Chamkaur Sahib, where he trained in traditional wrestling and kabaddi during school.
Inspired by mixed martial arts and strength sports, he later joined a local gym to train in modern combat disciplines before moving to Mohali to attend a specialised strength and conditioning academy.
His discipline and dedication, despite limited resources, earned him recognition in combat sports circles.
Prior to slap fighting, Jujhar Singh competed in mud wrestling.
He soon made a name for himself in the slap-fighting circuit before Power Slap saw his talent.
Before his Power Slap debut, Singh spent over a year in intensive training.
His routine reportedly included strength workouts at dawn, hand conditioning drills, and balance exercises designed to improve strike control, a crucial skill in Power Slap competitions where technique matters as much as raw power.
He also practised controlled breathing and neck-strengthening routines to withstand incoming strikes.
Watch his Historic Win:
Reflecting on his historic win after returning to India, Singh said:
“This victory is not just mine, it’s for every Indian athlete who dreams big despite humble beginnings.
“I wanted to prove that even a boy from Chamkaur Sahib can make the world take notice.”
Founded by UFC CEO Dana White, Power Slap follows standard slap fighting rules.
Competitors have 60 seconds to deliver an open-handed slap, striking below the eye but above the chin, with all hand-to-face contact occurring simultaneously.
Receivers may not flinch, raise their shoulders, or tuck their chin.
After each slap, the recipient has 60 seconds to recover before their turn.
Matches lasting three rounds without a knockout go to the judges, who score using a 10-point system based on slap effectiveness and recovery. Title bouts are five rounds, with an extra round used to break draws.
All eyes will be on Jujhar Singh’s next Power Slap bout as he looks to increase his profile on the international combat sports stage.
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