"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