Sikh Organisation Associated with Sports

When Darwin gave the theory of survival of the fittest, he meant to say that healthy persons can only exist, whereas the weak persons are either enslaved or destroyed, so is the position of a community or a Nation. When the Chinese remained intoxicated, they were so weak that they could not fight with any country and were beaten by Japan, a very small country compared to them in the year 1905. Today, the Chinese being healthy and strong have emerged as one of the most powerful nations in the world. The Sikh Guru’s were fully conscious of making their followers healthy and strong. Guru Nanak Dev ji spent a major part of his life in making spiritual journeys. No other prophet or spiritual master under took so long journeys for propagation of his tenets and teachings. Guru Nanak was a great walker, who travelled thousands of miles for propagation of a religion based on Oneness of God and Universal love and brotherhood. When Guru Angad Dev ji concentrated on carrying forward his master’s message by remaining at his teaching centre at Khadoor Sahib, he gave due importants to the health of his followers. Guru Arjan Dev’s skill in tent pegging
is well known Guru Hargobind ji had started the tradition of holding wrestling bouts within the precincts of Akal Takht Sahib and it is mostly because of the fillip that he gave and the seal of ethics that he put on them that sports became a proud facet of life in Punjab. The skill in use of weapons as shown by the Sixth Guru, the Ninth Guru and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave birth to the sport of Gatka which went gaining popularity during the subsequent period. During the Hola Mohalla celebrations at Anandpur Sahib tent pegging competitions, archery, fencing and riding competitions, gymnastic and acrobatic displays which the Nihangs put up and the tournaments held at Diwali have a hoary history. To the Punjabis goes the distinction of organising rural games into tournaments. We shall now talk about such tournaments and the people and organizations associated with them.

Surjit Hockey Society

Hockey, being the favourite game of Sikhs, there are a number of well known Sikhs hockey players who had brought glory for their country in the Olympics. They include S. Balbir Singh, S. Prithipal Singh, S. Joginder Singh, S. Ajit Pal Singh and S. Surjit Singh Randhawa. S. Surjit Singh Randhawa was a Hockey Olympic Player of India, who had won international fame. He made his international debut in the second World Cup Hockey Tournament in Amsterdam in 1973. He was a member of the Indian team which won the third World Cup Hockey Tournament at Kuala Lumpur in 1975. Surjit Singh also participated in the Fifth World Cup Hockey Tournament, the 1974 and 1978 Asian Games 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, Surjit was acclaimed as one of the best full backs in the world. In 1973 he was included in the World Hockey XI
Next year he was a member of the All-Star Hockey XI. Surjit Singh was also the top scorer-both in the Esanda International hockey Tournament at Perth in Australia and the 1978 Asian Games. During his hockey career Surjit Singh was concerned about players cause. He served the Indian Airlines for a few years. Later he joined the Punjab Police. It was tragic that Mr. Surjit Singh, after his retirement from the game, died in a road accident near Bidhipur in Jalandhar district.

This society was formed to perpetuate his memory and a hockey stadium was named after him. A hockey academy named after him is also being run by the Punjab Government. The society started an annual event in the name of the Olympian Hockey player known as Surjit Memorial Hockey Tournament, which is held at Jalandhar every year. In the very first tournament held at Sri Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Jalandhar, top teams of Northern India participated and big crowd gathered to watch their performance. Since then top teams from Pakistan, Russia, Bangladesh, Yugoslavia, Canada, England, America, Croatia, Malaysia etc. have participated in this tournament from time to time besides the famous top teams of our country in Men and Women section. The society does not charge for witnessing the matches. Rather, it has introduced the idea of attracting the people to this game by announcing the lucky draw scheme as per which car and other prizes are given to the lucky winners. Society has been honoured by hockey loving people of Punjab by way of extending continuous financial help and with their kind support, society has been able to provide maximum facilities to the participating teams on the pattern of International standards besides cash awards & other attractive prizes to best players amounting to Rs. 10 Lakhs. Society has been honoured by “Indian Oil Corporation Limited” by way of extending continuous sponsorship since 1990, hockey lovers & other sponsors and with their kind support, society has been able to provide maximum facilities to the participating teams on the pattern of International standards besides cash awards & other attractive prizes to best players. The Society also honours best hockey players and others and provides training to the deserving players.
Besides Punjab Hockey Association and Hockey India, it carefully observes the budding players so that the best can be chosen for state and national teams.

Jarnail Singh Memorial Football Tournament Committee, Garh Shankar

Whereas hockey has been a favourite game of Sikhs, name of football game is mainly associated with West Bengal. That does not mean that there are no Sikh players who have won laurels in the game of Football. We have a living Football legend in S. Inder Singh (living at Phagwara). Again, S. Jarnail Singh was an Olympian who had won name and fame in this sport. That is why, he is commemorated by an organisation named as Olympian Jarnail Singh Memorial Football Tournament Committee, Garhshankar. This organisation under the founder president ship of S. Major Singh Mauji has not only been encouraging the youngsters for the football game, but also has been holding a tournament in the memory of the Olympian sportsperson since 2002. Main football clubs and college teams participate in this tournament every year. Some other village sports have also been included in this tournament since 2010. A stadium has also been setup by this organisation at Khalsa College, Garhshankar. The 18th tournament in this series held in February 2019 which witnessed a great participation.

Guru Tegh Bahadar Sports Foundation, Pune

There is another Sikh Organization based at Pune which organises football tournaments every year since 2001. A good number of teams including ladies Teams participate. This organization known as Guru Tegh Bahadar Sports Foundation Pune was the brain child of Sardar S. S. Ahluwalia and his wife Lion Kulwant Kaur Rani. They started organising these tournaments in the year 2001 on the occasion of the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji. In the beginning there were a few teams participants. But in the 18th tournament held in 2018, sixty teams participated include 12 ladies teams. These teams were divided into 3 groups – senior teams (24), junior teams (24) and ladies team (12). The winning and runner-up teams were awarded cash prizes, trophies, shoulder kit bags and medals. Free top quality Footballs were presented to all 60 participating teams. The events of the tournament are attended every year by Sikh and non-sikhs dignitaries from Pune and other parts of the state as well as the high officials of the Lions Club of which madam Kulwant Kaur Rani is Region Chairperson. Tea and Guru Ka Langar is served every day during 11 days of this tournament for all players, volunteers, organizers and spectators. This most popular & prestigious Guru Tegh Bahadar Football Tournament is started by Ardas and it has been always a Grand Success. Sardar S. S. Ahluwalia admits that main purpose of tournaments is to apprise the people of the martyrdom of our Great Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji for the great cause of right to the freedom of religion. For this noble cause, considerable pictorial literature to highlight this martyrdom in Punjabi, Hindi, English and Marathi is distributed free to all those who attend their tournament for 11 days.

In addition to above, Best Fowards, Best Goalkeepers and Best Discipline Teams in each category were also awarded Cash Prizes of Rs. 3000.00 each plus Memento. English, Hindi and Marathi Newspapers carried everyday action photos of Football Teams playing on the Ground and also Inauguration and Final Day Prize Distribution functions.

Although hockey is the national game of India, and is very popular among Sikhs, cricket is more popular as a sport in many countries of the world including India. Sikhs have shown their capability is this sport also by giving a number of Sikh players like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Harbhajan Singh. S. Bhishan Singh Bedi has been the captain of the Indian Cricket Team also in 22 test matches.

Savat Surat Gursikh Cricket Tournament

There is one organization based at Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, which has been organizing a Savat Surat Gursikh Cricket Tournament every year since 2006. The three day tournament, 12th in the series was organized in November 2018 at Sant Nishchal Singh Public School ground, wherein 15 teams of Savat Surat players participated. It was shown even on a local TV channel. S. Gurbax Singh, patron of the society informed that the purpose of such a tournament is to prevent apostasy among the Sikh youth. During all these years, many Sikh youngsters who had shaved their hair restored their Sikh image and such players were honoured during this tournament. The first position was won by Bedi Challengers and the second position went to Bedi Super Kings. Dashmesh Lions Team won the third position. The winners were given cash prizes and other prizes like the cricket kits etc.

Kanwar Ashish ‘Simar’ Charitable Foundation

We also have an annual cricket tournament which is organized by a private trust known as Kanwar Ashish ‘Simar’ Charitable Foundation. This tournament commemorates the memory of Kanwar Ashish s/o S. C. Pal Singh. The tournament was instituted in the year 1998 in the loving memory of dear Kanwar Ashish student
of DPS R. K. Puram who was unexpectedly snatched away by the cruel hands of fate on the 20th of July at the young age. Eighteen Annual Kanwar Ashish inter DPS Cricket Tournaments have been conducted so far by this foundation. This foundation has been created with the following other objectives:-

To develop institution for the children to provide them medical, educational, nutritional, clothing, sports and cultural facilities etc. for the overall development of their personality.
To encourage handicrafts, music, dances and sports for the benefit of the children, and to organize various cultural events and tournaments for the same.
To sponsor and institute scholarship etc. for deserving children in various fields.
To exchange delegates and visits between children helped and sponsored by this trust with the children sponsored by similar charitable institution to broaden development of their personalities.

S. C. Pal Singh (9811054917) is the creator and the main Trustee of this trust.

Kabaddi – History and Organisations

Kabaddi is another game dear to Punjabis. The origin of this game can be traced back to the prehistoric times. Till the turn of this century, Kabaddi had become so popular that in most of the countries, it was played at several places. That is why when the International Kabaddi Federation was formed in 2004, 31 National associations became its members. Before this organisation came into being, World Kabaddi Federation was officially founded in 2003. That first International Federation was later on called ‘International Kabaddi Federation’. This Federation later on decided to add supporting members to be called as ‘friends of Kabaddi’. Its object was to reach out to all the Kabaddi lovers whose support was crucial for the promotion and development of this game. Thus, gradually, the Kabaddi game was introduced in schools, colleges and universities and many clubs and organisations were formed at these levels. Further different form of Kabaddi with little variations became prevalent at different places. In 1950, All India Kabaddi Federation was formed. Later on “The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India” (AKF) was founded in 1973. This body was affiliated to Indian Olympic Association with a view to popularize the game in India and neighbouring countries of Asia. Thereafter, National level competitions started for boys and girls.

Kabaddi Championships

The first Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in the year 1980. Kabaddi was included as a demonstration game in the 9th Asian Games, New Delhi in the year 1982. As per the site www.indiankabaddi.org “The game was included in the South Asian Federation (SAF) games from the year 1984 at Dacca, Bangladesh. Kabaddi was included as a discipline in the 11th Asian Games Beijing 1990 and India won the lone Gold Medal of Kabaddi in the 11th Asian Games Beijing 1990. India is the reigning champion in the succeeding Asian Games held in Hiroshima 1994, Bangkok 1998, and Busan 2002 & then at Doha 2006 and created history in Indian sports by winning five consecutive Gold medals in the Asian Games so far. This went on till 2014 and India dominated the event by winning highest number of gold medals in both men and women categories.

Kabaddi World Cup (Standard style)

The Kabaddi World Cup, is an indoor international kabaddi competition conducted by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) in standard style, contested by men’s and women’s national teams. The competition has been previously contested in 2004, 2007 and 2016. All the tournaments have been won by India. In 2016, the first Women’s Kabaddi World Cup was held for women in India. The current format of the competition involves a round robin group stage, with 6 teams in 2 pools, with the first and second place finishers of each group progressing to the semi-finals.

Kabaddi World Cup (Circle style)

The circle style Kabaddi World Cup, is an International Kabaddi competition administrated by the Government of Punjab (India) contested by men’s and women’s national teams. The competition has been contested every year since the inaugural tournament in 2010, except for 2015 due to the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration controversy. The women’s tournament was introduced in 2012. As of October 2016, every tournament, men’s and women’s, has been won by India. The current format of the competition involves a round robin group stage, with 4 teams in 2 pools, first and second of the each group progress to the semi-finals. It may be added here that this world cup was mainly an initiative of S. Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab. In his words, his mission was to take Kabaddi to Olympics one day. It may be added that this World cup continued till 2016, but the Congress Government on assuming the charge did not continue the same. It may be mentioned here that the first World Cup Kabaddi was organised in 2011. The last World Cup Kabaddi was organised in the year 2016 under the Shiromani Akali Dal. It was not just sports but full entrainment extravaganza day, as it was a blend of pollywood, bollywood and sports.

Rural Sports in Punjab

Before 1947, Kabaddi and wrestling only were known as the rural sports as these were played in most of the villages. Gradually, hockey also became popular and some of the villages started making name in this sport. For example, Sansarpur Village in Jalandhar District became so famous for hockey that a large numbers of National Hockey players for India as well as for other countries like Kenya were given by this village. The Punjabi villagers started playing some other games also which too became popular and spread to various villages of the state. These games included Khido Khoondi, weight lifting, races etc. Then started a number of fairs wherein competitions in these games were held among the various villagers. The competition was not confined among the villagers only, but they also brought their domestic animals like bulls, horses and dogs and the races among them were also organised. At places cockfights and pigeon fights contests were also started. An important organisation which started these types of competitions in the fair was ‘Grewal Sports Association’.

Grewal Sports Association

Grewal Sports Association was the founder of Qila Raipur Games which are popularly known as rural Olympics. Their origin started with a hockey tournament in Jalandhar District in which Qila Raipur had sent a team that won Silver cup. This village was mainly dominated by Grewal Jatt population. Thus, the villagers became so happy that they formed an association named at Grewal Sports Association. They decided to introduce an inter village competition in volleyball, Kabaddi and a few track events. More and more games were added in subsequent Annual competitions. These rural sports in the form of a fair became so popular that till today, they are the biggest crowd attracters. Following the Qila Raipur Rural Sports meet the Kalgidhar Tournament of Kamalpur has also completed halfa-century. Dhudike’s Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Sports Fair has completed three decades. Gujarwal, Mullanpur, Sahnewal, Ghungali Rajputtana Hambla, Dhamto are flourishing. The small sports meets of Lalto Kalaan, Dhurkot, Rauni, Dyalpur, Rurka Kala, Bhinder Kalan, uare-ana have also gained stature. Qila Raipur Sports Festival, which had become in the year
1997 a part of the Tableau of Punjab in the Republic Day Parade, is held in February every year and is visited by not only people from Punjab, but also from other states and even foreigners. It may be mentioned here that as the Supreme Court had banned Bull fight, this sport was missing even during the event this year. S. Gurshandeep Singh Grewal (Sunny) (M.: 9876315251) president of the organization stated that during this event of three days from February 2 to February 4 could not present this event but was full of thrilling events like tug-of-war, tent-pegging, kabaddi, hockey, gymnastics and athletics, besides rare seen dare devil acts by motorcycle riders, veterans’ race, feats by bazigars, stunts by horse-riding Nihangs, super-human acts such as lifting of plough and many other events. Bhangra dancers, troupes of Malwai giddha and gatka (local martial art) are also scheduled on the events list. The other important persons associated with this year’s event are S. Sukhvir Singh Grewal (contact no 9888016131), chief organizer and S. Paramjit Singh Grewal (contact no 9815762396) the secretary of the organization.

Khalsai Khel Utsav

Khalsai Khel Utsav is organised every year by SGPC. It is a 2-3 days sports event in which SGPC managed educational institution participates by sending their teams. The venue is selected every year at the site of one of these educational institutions. When 12th Khalsai Khel Utsav was organised in March 2016, it was organised at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University Fatehgarh Sahib under the aegis of SGPC. The 15th event was organised in March 2018. This three-days 15th Khalsai Khel Utsav 2018 of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee run colleges started off at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Sri Anandpur Sahib. SGPC president, Bhai Gobind Singh Longowal was the Chief Guest of the function. Many dignitaries highlighted the objectives of Khalsayi Khel Utsav and motivated the students. They all talked about the importance of sports in one’s life. They also highlighted the rich history of Sikhs. They motivated the students to be in touch with their roots. The participants showcased their talent in various sports like Hockey, Tug of War, Gatka, Chess, Basketball, Kho-Kho, Table-Tennis, etc.

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