Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (P.C.S.) www.PCSChicago.org
held it's 15th annual "Punjabi Sports Festival 2009"
in Chicago area on August 22 -23, 2009 in Addison, Illinois. With
focus on fitness and healthy life style, food, fun and laughter
were in the air everywhere in the park. Admission and food were
free. More than 1000 Chicagoans enjoyed Punjabi community sports
activities and a family style fun fair in a gorgeous weather to
be outdoors. The chief guest was Jarnail Singh Lail of W.W. Grainger
Corp. State Senator Dan Rutherford, Mayor of Addison Larry Hartwig,
and the former Mayor of Palatine Rita Mullins were the guests
of honor.
The Basketball tournament contested by ten teams was held on
Saturday, August 22, 2009, indoor facilities at Community Park
in Addison, IL. The main event was on August 23 outdoors at the
same park.
At the formal inauguration ceremonies, maintaining the PCS tradition
the athletes paraded the grounds with Dhol music by Sukhi Basati,
Dilraj S. Sekhon. After the Sikh prayer Shabad, the American National
Anthem was sung by Navreet Kaur Heneghan. State Senator Rutherford,
Addison Mayor Hartwig, former Mayor of Palatine Rita Mullins,
chief guest Jarnail Singh Lail, PCS Chairman Harinder Singh (MITS),
Chicago 2016 representative Waleed Elgindy, & PCS officials
inaugurated the festival, by releasing a colorful bunch of helium
balloons to the clear blue sky declaring amidst a thunderous applause,
with a count down, "10, 9, 8, 7...let the games begin!!!"
Several other local dignitaries also attended & congratulated
the organizers for such an enjoyable & meaningful community
event.
Kabaddi, soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams from New York,
Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Windsor Canada,
competed for the championships in the PCS tournament.
Laughter Yoga demonstration was given by Dr. Om Johari. There
were four large tents full of people with simultaneously running
fun activities or sports games all around the park.
The Sher-E-Punjab Sports Club Chicago Kabaddi team won the PCS
Chicago Kabaddi Cup along with a cash award of $3100 sponsored
in loving memory of S. Saudagar Singh Kular by Sunny Kular &
Ronny S. Kular. The Doaba Club Chicago Kabaddi team won the runners
up trophy & a cash prize of $1100 sponsored by Balwinder Singh
Girn. Ranjit Singh Pattan of Shere-E-Punjab team was declared
the best raider & Vicki Singh also of Shere-E-Punjab team
was determined to be the best stopper of the tournament. Happy
Heer entertained the audience with his authentic Kabaddi commentary.
PCS Chicago Soccer cup and $500 cash prize sponsored by Rajinder
Singh Bains and Mandeep Singh Bhura was won by the Midwest United
team. Shawn's Tigers won the second place PCS Chicago Soccer Cup
sponsored by Lovedeep Singh Dulat in loving memory of S. Sewa
Singh Dulat D.P.E.
Ten volleyball teams competed. PCS Chicago Volleyball Cup and
first prize $500 sponsored by Sukhmel Singh Atwal & Amarjit
K. Atwal was won by PHO Chicago team. The Cincinnati Club Volleyball
team won the runners up trophy sponsored by Lakhvir Singh &
Jasvir Singh Sahota brothers.
PCS Chicago Basketball Cup & a cash prize of $500 sponsored
by Jarnail Singh Lail in loving memory of S. Kehar Singh Lail
was won by the "SKS Sports Club New York" basket ball
team. The “Chicago Sher” team won the runners up trophy
sponsored by Dr. Harjinder Singh Khaira. Ten teams participated
in the basketball tournament. Among the junior's game "Balle
Sardara" team won over the PCS basketball team.
In children's 50 meter races, 5-7 years age Group, Puneet Singh
was first & Mehar Kaur came in second. In 8-9 years age group
Arman Singh came first & Jujhar Singh was second. In 10-12
years age group Raskirit Singh won & Esha Kular was the runner
up. In ladies open race Satinder K. Sandhu won & Naresh Satsangi
came in second. In the musical chairs race Jasdeep K. Saini won.
Free continental breakfast, soft drinks and delicious Punjabi
lunch was provided to all in attendance.
A professional clown and children's fun activities like arts and
crafts, coloring books, face painting, kids bowling, hula hoops,
kids golf, and bozo buckets etc. were coordinated by Amarjit Kaur
Atwal & Pardeep Deol.
The "Chicago 2016" organization & several vendors
had set up their booths at the festival to educate the community
about their services & fitness.
"Our goal is to bring our community together as a family,
& encourage them to lead a wholesome healthier lifestyle in
a fun way," said Ronny S. Kular the P.C.S. President.
Bhangra aerobics dancing which included the guests of honor was
done to the music of Sunshine DJ and live dhol.
The program was sponsored by Happy Heer, Jarnail S. Lail (W.W.
Grainger), Jaidev S. Bhattal ( Punjab Auto), Dr. Jay Mohindra,
Paul Khalil, Lakhvir S. Sahota, Dr. Harjinder S. Khaira, Japneet
S. Khaira, Parminder S. Walia, Jasvir Singh Kler ( Singh Video
& Grocery, Palatine, IL.), K.K. Pamma ( New India Carryout
Restaurant, Palatine, IL.), Harjinder S. Sandhu ( Sandhu Petroleum),
Sukhmel S. Atwal, Balwinder S. Girn, Lovedeep S. Dulat, Sher-a-Punjab
Sports & Cultural Club of Chicago, Punjab Sports Club of Midwest
Chicago, Sarwan S. Tiwana, Kuldeep S. Lang, Rajinder S. Bains,
Mandeep S. Bhura, Ravinder Singh (R.K. Carpets), Lakhwant S. Komal,
Satwant S. Atal, Thakar S. Basati & Iqbal S. Randhawa.
The numerous festival activities & details were coordinated
by Volunteers Pardeep Deol, Kevin Atwal, Navrang Bajwa, Surinder
S. Bhatia, Raghvinder S. Mahal, Amarpal Singh Sangha, Dr. Harpreet
S. Basran, Dr. Harjinder Khaira, Happy Heer, Bharpoor Singh, Subhash
Singh, Tony Sanghera, Mrs. Karmjit Kaur Gill, Mr. Dalbir Singh,
Mrs. Sarbjit Kaur, Mrs Raj Kaur Lail , Harvinder K. Sangha &
Kirpal K. Lall.
Sayed Mohsin did the Photography, food was catered by K.K. Pamma,
and music provided by Sunshine DJ Rishpal Singh.
The festival was organized by Ronny S. Kular, Surinder S. Sangha,
Bhinder S. Pamma, Balwinder S. Girn, Sukhmel S. Atwal, Amarjit
K. Atwal, Harwinderpal S Lail, Onkar S. Sangha, Sunny Kular, Baljit
S. Sidhu, Thakar Singh Basati, Mohinderjit S. Saini, Rajinder
Singh Mago & many more volunteers.
The upcoming PCS Chicago event is its 8th. International Bhangra
and Gidha Competition on October 31, 2009 at Waterford Banquets
and Convention Center in Elmhurst IL.
The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit
community organization devoted to promoting Punjabi Culture, language,
performing arts, healthy life style, sports, education & good
citizenship, in the metropolitan Chicago area.
