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Sikh sports festival
begins in Malaysia
WSN Bureau
 SIKH
sportsmen from all around the country and Singapore gathered at
Georgian Green, the sports field of SMK King George V in Seremban
recently to take part in the 57th Gurdwara Cup and Sikh Festival of
Sports.
Games
organising chairman Daljeet Singh Dhillon said this year’s meet was
meaningful to the state contingent as it coincided with the Negri
Sembilan Sikh Union’s (NSSU) 75th anniversary.
This
was the eighth time NSSU was hosting the games.
“It’s
even more significant to us as the NSSU was formed way back in 1933
on this very field.
“We
are also grateful to the state government for their contribution of
RM50,000 towards the games and the Malaysia Singapore Sikh Sports
Council (MSSSC) for acceeding to our request to hold the games here
in conjunction of our diamond jubilee,” he said.
Organised by the MSSSC, this year’s sports festival included 11
teams from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malacca, Perak, Pahang, Johor,
Penang, Kedah, Sabah, Singapore and Negri Sembilan.
MSSSC
president Datuk Sohan Singh Randhawa said the objective of the games
was to encourage fellowship between participants as well as to
promote sportsmanship.
“The
Gurdwara Cup started out as a hockey tournament but eventually
expanded to include various games such as football, badminton, golf
and netball.
“Ever
since the formation of the MSSSC, the cup itself is presented to the
winners of the inter-state hockey seniors tournament,” he said.
The
launch had the Armed Forces’ marching band and raising of the games’
flag and later the crowd was also entertained by a Bhangra
performance.
Negri
Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who launched the
event, said the state would continue to lend its support to the NSSU
especially in organising games as it was a positive activity for
youth development.
“Not
only is it a wonderful opportunity for participants to build
rapport, these games will also help spot budding talent among the
younger participants.
“Despite being a small community, many Sikhs have gone on to
represent the country. Among them are Karamjit Singh, Santokh Singh,
Serbegeth Singh and Sarjit Singh.
“I
hope the younger participants will be inspired by these sporting
heroes to further develop their talents,” he said.
He
said the state government had also agreed to give a 50% discount to
the organisers to rent the venues for the games, which included the
Seremban 2 Hockey stadium at the Seremban Municipal Council hall.
11
June,
2008
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