Punjabi Sports Festival 2000
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Media Coverage Archives:
1998,
1999,
2000
PUNJABI SPORTS FESTIVAL '2000: was organized by PCS at Palatine community park.
PCS is thankful to all the participants, organizers and sponsors of Punjabi
sports Festival '2000. Also see attached Press Release for Punjabi Sports
Festival '2000, which was well covered by American mainstream media including
"Chicago Tribune" and "Daily Herald" and also Indo-American
media.
Punjabi
Cultural Society of Chicago
News
Release
“PUNJABI
SPORTS FESTIVAL 2000”
A FOCUS ON FUN, FITNESS AND FESTIVITIES
ORGANIZED BY PUNJABI CULTURAL SOCIETY OF CHICAGO
CHICAGO:
Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago’s (PCS’s) sixth annual “Punjabi Sports
Festival ” was held on Saturday, August 19, from 9 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. at
Palatine Community Park, Palatine, Illinois. More than 1000 including local
Americans from Palatine and Inverness, and Punjabis from all over Chicago,
Indianapolis, Detroit and Milwaukee attended the event during the course of the
day.
More
than 200 athletes participated in the sports competitions out doors at the park
where tents were set up on a beautiful sunny day. Exciting matches of
Basketball, Soccer, Kabaddi & Volleyball were played. Track & Field
athletic events, weight lifting competition were held as well.
Free
food including breakfast, kool-aid drinks, Punjabi lunch, and bar-b-cue chicken
was provided by PCS to all in attendance. This event was open and free to
public.
Palatine
mayor Rita Mullins and Illinois
State representative Suzanne Bassi inaugurated the tournament following a parade
of the athletes by releasing the ceremonial colorful balloons to the sky. They
also welcomed the participants to Palatine and the festival. “This is my sixth
year inaugurating Punjabi Sports Festival,” said Mayor Mullins.
“Doors
of Palatine,” a poster produced by Vision In Progress was presented to Mayor
Mullins by Jane Johnson, the V.I.P. chairperson.
“Vision
in Progress, is a community initiative aimed at improving the quality of life in
Palatine and Inverness. Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is proud to be a
part of this American mainstream initiative” said Mr. Mohinderjit Singh Saini
the President of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago and also the Chairman of
Ethnic & Cultural Diversity Committee of “Vision in Progress”.
The
opening ceremonies started with prayers by “Sikh Youth of Chicago” followed
by the American national anthem and pledge of allegiance lead by Parminder Kaur
Rehal.
A
moment of silence was observed in the memory of Dhami Family’s four members
killed in an automobile accident in Hanover Park on August 12, 2000 by a drunk
driver. The accident resulted in two Dhami children 7 and 9 years of age loosing
their both parents and both paternal grand parents at the same time. This
tragedy was on the minds of everyone in the community.
Due
to a large number of contesting teams, the Basketball and Volleyball tournament
matches, quarter finals and semi finals, were played a week earlier on Sunday,
August 13, 2000, at the same place.
The
awards to the winners were distributed by several seniors and community leaders.
State Representative Suzzane Bassi greeted the sports participants and
distributed awards to the sponsors of the event.
DeVry
Institute of Technology, Palatine Park District, Vision In Progress, Buehler
YMCA, Devon North Town Business Association, Major Gurcharan Singh Jhaj of
Punjab Auto Works, Menjinder Singh Bhambra, Sukhdev Singh Multani, Bibi Ajmer
Kaur Gakhal, Sukhmel S. Atwal, Khazan Singh Multani, Amolak S. Gidda, Onkar
Entertainers, Dr. Inderbir S. Gill and Sunny Kular sponsored the event.
“Kabaddi”
(a popular game in Punjab) match was held. “Chicago Young Blood” beat
“Ankhi Jodhe” team to win the “Harbhajan Singh Gakhal Memorial Kabaddi
Cup.” “Brown Snakes” won “Onkar Entertainers Basketball Cup” second
year in a row by beating “Punjabi Young Blood” team. “PHO team” also
second year in a row won the “Watan Singh Tambarh Memorial Volleyball Cup”
by beating the “Punjabi Snakes”. “Punjabi Timber Wolves” won the juniors
Basketball by beating “Punjabi Pataka”.
“Khalsa
Soccer club” of Detroit won “Bibi Rawel Kaur Multani Memorial Soccer Cup”
by beating the “Doaba Soccer Club” of Chicago. Junior Soccer (10-13 years
age) was won by “Punjabi Fire” by beating “Punjabi Tigers”. Children
Soccer (6-9 years age) was won by “Punjabi Soormey” by beating “Punjabi
Sher”.
Harjinder
Singh stood first in 150 pounds weight lifting category, Ronny Kular took the
first in 175 pounds category and Sunny Kular took the first place in 190 pounds
weight category.
Men’s
100 meters race was won by Gurinder Dhanoa. Makhan Brar won the 400 meters and
Jaswinder Singh won the 1500 meters race. Boys (under 16) 100-meter race was won
by Sukhjinder Singh. Women’s 100-meter race (25 to 35 years age group) was won
by Kamaljeet Bhandal and (35 to 45 years age group) was won by Gagan Singh.
Girls (under 16) 100-meter race was won by Anu Valia. Children’s 50 meter
races, for 10 to 11 year age group was won by Simar Singh, 8 to 9 years age
group was won by Jaspreet Singh and under 7 years age group was won by Jaskaran
S. Saini.
The
Sports Festival was organized for PCS by Mohinderjit S. Saini, Harwinder Pal S.
Lail, Harjinder S. Khaira, Bhagwant S. Sandhu, Onkar S. Sangha, Bhinder S. Pamma,
Amarjit K. Atwal, Jasvir Singh Palia, Jassi Parmar, Jagmeet Singh, Sunny Kular,
Jagjit S. Dhindsa, Jaswinder S. Sapal, Gurmit S. Mudhar, Gulzar S. Multani,
Sukhmel S. Atwal, Rajinder S. Mago, Manjit S. Gill, Ronny Kular, Raju
Sandhu, Kulbir S. Bagri, Yadwinder S. Grewal.
The
children practiced for Basketball and Soccer for the last four months at Buehler
YMCA grounds with the help of Shashi Singh, Surinder S. Sangha, Mohinder Singh
Kahlon and Amritpal Singh Sangha and
many other PCS volunteers.
Punjabi
music at the festival all day long was provided by Rishpal Singh of Sunshine DJ.
Delicious Punjabi food was catered by Indian Platter restaurant. Photography was
volunteered by Kashmir Singh. A professional magician entertained the kids.
Musical chairs race for seniors, women and children was also held.
Participant
awards for PCS’s Vaisakhi program “Rangla Punjab 2000” were also given at
the Sports Festival.
PCS
is in the process of forming children’s teams for swimming, basketball, and
troupes for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Please call Mrs. Amarjit Kaur Atwal of
PCS at (847) 564-4735 for sign-up information.
Punjabi
Cultural Society of Chicago is a non-profit community organization devoted to
promoting Punjabi culture, performing arts and sports in metropolitan Chicago
area. Stay tuned to PCS next event “PCS Night ‘2000”.
PCS
News Release prepared by:
Rajinder Singh Mago, Paron, PCS
Sports
Festival’s News in Chicago
Tribune Visit http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/metro/northwest/article/0,2669,SAV-0008220239,FF.html
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©
1989-2001 [Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago]. All rights
reserved. Revised: March 08, 2001
P.
O. BOX 1244, PALATINE, IL. 60078 , 
(847) 359-5PCS, 
(847) 359-1107 
info@pcschicago.org