Connecting over 25 millions NRIs worldwide
Most trusted Name in the NRI media
NRI PEOPLE- OUR NETWORK
 
Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (P.C.S.) held it’s 14th annual “Punjabi Sports Festival 2008”

 

"PUNJABI SPORTS FESTIVAL 2008" PROMOTES HEALTHIER LIFE STYLE

CHICAGO, Aug 20, 2008
Rajinder Singh Mago

Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (P.C.S.) held it’s 14th annual “Punjabi Sports Festival 2008” in Chicago area on August 9 -10, 2008 in Palatine, 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 an excellent weather to be outdoors. The chief guest was Harjinder Singh Sandhu of Sandhu Petroleum. Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini of Advanced Pain Management Milwaukee was the guest of honor.

The Basketball tournament competed by thirteen teams was held on Saturday, August 9, 2008, indoor facilities at Palatine Park District, 250 E. Wood Street, in Palatine, IL. The main event was on August 10.

At the formal inauguration ceremonies, maintaining the PCS tradition the athletes paraded the grounds with Dhol music by Sukhi Basati. Sikh prayer shabad and American National Anthem were sung by Navraaz Kaur Basati. A beaming Mayor of Palatine Rita Mullins inaugurated the festival, her 14th year in a row, by releasing a colorful bunch of helium balloons to the clear blue sky declaring amidst a thunderous applause, “let the games begin!!!” Several other local dignitaries including Illinois State Senator Matt Murphy and several state level political candidates also attended and congratulated the organizers for such an enjoyable and meaningful community event.

Kabaddi, soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams from New York, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois competed for the championships in the PCS tournament.

Yoga, meditation, and House Holder’s Fitness exercises class rendered by Shiva Singh and Shabad Kaur Khalsa attracted many curious learners to tryout the ancient but popular exercise techniques.

The New York Sports Club Kabaddi team won the PCS Chicago Harbhajan Singh Gakhal Memorial Kabaddi Cup along with a cash award of $2100 sponsored by Harjinder Singh Sandhu of Sandhu Petroleum. The PCO Milwaukee Kabaddi team won the runners up trophy and a cash prize of $1100 sponsored by Baldev Singh Bagri. Shere Punjab of Chicago and Doaba Club of Chicago Kabaddi teams gave the winners a very hard challenge. Charanjeet Singh of New York team was declared the best stopper and Sandeep Singh also of the New York team was determined to be the best raider of the tournament. Harwinder Pal Singh Lail, Happy Heer and Major Singh Mauji entertained the audience with their spicy commentary.

S. Sewa Singh Dulat D.P.E. memorial PCS Chicago Soccer Cup and cash prize of $1100 sponsored by Lovedeep Singh Dulat was won by Midwest United team.

PCS Chicago Volleyball Cup and first prize $500 sponsored by Devinder Kaur (Pinky) Deol of Midwest Physical Therapy was won by PHO Chicago team. The Saint Louis Volleyball team won the runners up trophy.

S. Kehar Singh Lail memorial PCS Chicago Basketball Cup and a cash prize of $500 sponsored by Jarnail Singh Lail was won by the “Brown Plaque” basket ball team. The Punjabi Future Stars won the runners up trophy. Thirteen teams participated in the basketball tournament. Among the junior’s game PCS White Sox won over the PCS Cubs basketball team.

The ladies three-legged race, first place winners were Gurdeep Kaur and Kiranjit Kaur, and the runners up were Gagan Kaur Singh and Harmanjot K. Sangha.

The three-legged race for girls under 17 year of age first place winners were Sanpreet K. Singh and Baljeet K. Singh, and the second place winners were Rubina Dhillon and Simi Dulat.

In women’s 100 meter race Vicky Dhillon came in first, Salminder Sandhu second and Jasdeep Saini took the third place.

In girls 50 meter race Raman Saini took the first place, Kiran Saini the Second and Gagan K. Singh the third place.

Harmanjot K. Sangha won the musical chairs contest.

In children’s 50 meter races, 7-9 years age Group, Sumeet Saini was first and Devon Saini came in second.

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, face painting, bean bags throw, and bozo buckets etc. were coordinated by Jatinder Kaur Badwal and Amarpal Singh Matharu.

The “Metropolitan Asian Family Services” and “Stay Fit Physical Therapy” organizations set up their booths at the festival to educate the community about their services and fitness.

“Our goal is to bring our community together as a family, and motivate them to a wholesome healthier lifestyle in a fun way,” said Amarjit Kaur Atwal the P.C.S. president.

“In this rat race of making money, we tend to forget that health is wealth,” said Rajinder Singh Mago a PCS board of governors, “in today’s fast pace and automation where heart attacks are on the rise a balance in life is needed. We must regularly take time out to exercise and play as a family,” he added.

“PCS Chicago actually goes beyond organizing a picnic type community get together and entertainment. We put together a multi-sports tournament. Thanks to our volunteers who put in effort to form children’s teams, set up and organize game practices, and provide encouragement and coaching for children’s Soccer and Basketball teams. It’s good to start them young,” said Jarnail Singh Lail the PCS Chairman.

Prize distribution to the winners and Bhangra dancing to the music of Sunshine DJ Rishpal Singh highlighted the fun-filled closing ceremonies in the evening.

The program was sponsored by Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini (Advanced Pain Management), Harjinder Singh Sandhu (Sandhu Petroleum), Mr.& Mrs. Lovedeep Singh Dulat, Menjinder Singh Bhambra (Combined Oil Co.), Mr. & Mrs. Happy S. Heer, Mr. & Mrs. Jarnail S. Lail, Mr. & Mrs. Sukhmel S. Atwal, Major (retd.) Gurcharan Singh Jhaj, Baldev Singh Bagri, Devinder Kaur (Pinky) Deol (Midwest Physical Therapy), Western Union, Bharat Matrimony, Amrik Singh (Amar Carpet) and Ravi Singh (RK Carpet).

Breakfast was sponsored by Singh Grocers. Financial donations were made by Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Abraham Haque, Mat Singh Dhillon, Jaspal Singh Bolina, Hardev Singh Sodhi, Khushpal Singh Sodhi, Balwant Singh Hansra, Nimrata (Ladi) Singh, Iqbal Singh Randhawa, Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Ajaib Singh Lakhan, Dalbir Singh Atwal, Thakar Singh Basati, AASA, MAFS, and Mohinderjit Singh Saini.

The numerous festival activities and details were coordinated by volunteers Bharpoor Singh, Surinder S. Sangha, Narinder Singh Munder, Jaspaul Saini, Devjit Randhawa, Johnjit S. Shergill, Kevindeep S. Atwal, Pardeep Deol, Paul S. Shergill, Surinder S Sangha, Amritpal S. Sangha, Jaskaran S. Saini, Amrit Girn, Gurpreet Girn, Surinder K. Sangha, Sukhi Basati, Navraaz Basati, Dr. Hargurmukhpal Singh, Jatinder K. Badwal, Amarpal S. Matharu, Anju Gakhal, Pindi Dulat, Sweety Sangha, Parmjit K. Sangha, Happy Heer, Gurvindera Paul Singh Gakhal, Saleem Sarwar and Noreen Sarwar of Smileys Photography, food was catered by K.K. Pamma, and music provided by Sunshine DJ Rishpal Singh.

The festival was organized by Amarjit K. Atwal, Sukhmel S. Atwal, Parminder S. Ghotra, Balwinder S. Girn, Bhinder S. Pamma, Harwinderpal S Lail, Ronny Kular, Yadwinder S. Grewal, Onkar S. Sangha, Sunny S. Kular, Baljit S. Sidhu, Thakar Singh Basati, Mohinderjit S. Saini, Baljeet K. Sangha, Rajinder Singh Mago and many more volunteers.

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 and good citizenship, in the metropolitan Chicago area. For further information please contact: Raj.Mago@Navistar.com
PUNJABI CULTURAL SOCIETY of CHICAGO , P.O. Box 1244 , Palatine , IL 60078

 

 

 

 

Click for More Photos