Chicago IL : Punjabi sports lovers from the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio turned out, in huge numbers, to enjoy Kabaddi and Vollyball Tournaments, followed by a vibrant cultural program. The event was organized by Punjab Sports & Cultural Club at Elk Grove Village, Forest Preserve grounds in Chicago.
In the Kabaddi Cup Tournament, there were three Teams from India, USA, and Canada. In the final match, USA Kabaddi Team defeated the Indian Team by scoring 38 points against 19 and won the first prize. The second prize went to the Indian Team.
The first prize of $13,000 was sponsored by prominent businessman, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal from Milwaukee, in the memory of his father, late Subedar Kartar Singh Dhaliwal. The second prize of $11,000 was sponsored by the host Punjab Sports & Cultural Club.
The people watched the Kabaddi Tournament with great enthusiasm, as Kabaddi is affectionately called the mother of all sports in Punjab. In the Volleyball Tournament, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sports Club won the first prize of $1500 and Glenview Spykar, the second prize of $1100.
Raja Krishan Murti, the candidate for US Congress, in his address, appreciated the efforts of the Punjab Sports & Cultural Club in promoting love for sports among the people of Punjab. He urged the young generation to give up their sedentary life style. He called upon them to take active interest in their physical fitness and eat healthy food.
Murthi also appealed to the audience to support him in the ensuing Congress elections and give him an opportunity to serve them. OP Meena, Consul at the Consulate General of India in Chicago, who also spoke on the occasion, said that the love for sports among people of Punjab should be a source of inspiration to their counterparts from other parts of India. “This would go a long way in enriching the culture of physical fitness and enabling people to lead a happy life”, he added.
In the evening, the popular singers, Harbhjan Mann and Gursewak Mann, entertained the audience for more than two hours with their hit Punjabi folk songs. The people thoroughly enjoyed the cultural program and many of them, especially youngsters, were seen dancing energetically to the melodious tunes.
Typical Punjabi food, coupled with hot tea, was served throughout the day to the spectators, free of cost. The weather, which was highly pleasant, was instrumental not only in attracting people but also in retaining them throughout the tournament.
Harvinder Singh, President of the Club, Amrik Singh (Amar Carpet), Finance Secretary & Media In-charge, Happy Heer, Jaskaran Singh Dhaliwal, Lovedeep Singh Dulat, Narinder Singh Sra, Gian Singh Seehra, Gurmeet Singh Bhola, Rajinder Singh Dyal, Manminder Singh Heer, Lucky Sahota and Swaran Singh Sidhu, Board Members of the Club, contributed their best efforts in making the event a grand success.
