Chicago Kabaddi Cup tournament, a successful event

Chicago IL: Shere Punjab Sports & Cultural Club, Chicago held its annual Kabaddi cup tournament on September 1st at Busse Woods forest preserve which turned out to be a big festival of fun, food and sports. People not only from Chicagoland area but from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin came in large numbers to enjoy this sports festival. The Kabaddi and Volleyball teams from Toronto, California, Indianapolis and Michigan participated in the tournament. In the evening a famous Punjabi folk singer Gill Hardeep entertained the audience with his popular songs for more than one and a half hour. Mr. Madan Popli from Milwaukee was the chief guest.

In the open Kabaddi Cup matches the first prize was won by the Fateh Club, California defeating Miri Piri Sports Club, Indiana. The first prize of $5100 was sponsored by Jaswinder Singh Gill & Najar Singh Gill of Waukegan, Illinois and 2nd prize of $4100 was sponsored by Jaswinder Singh Jassi in memory of his father late. S. Major Singh.

In under-21 kabaddi matches host Shere Punjab Sports club was the winner and Malton Sports club-Toronto (Canada) was the runner-up. Total four teams played. Under 21 Kabaddi prizes were given out by Baldev Singh Sallah and Makhan Singh Dulley.

Four teams competed in the open Kabaddi. Besides winner and runner-up teams the other two teams were Shere Punjab Sports club-Chicago and Harjit Sports Club Toronto, Canada. The competition was tough. There was a lot of excitement in the Kabaddi lovers whenever a raider or stopper scored a point. They appreciated the players by announcing cash prizes for every point scored.

Kabaddi players of International repute were playing in both the teams. Two Hispanic players raider Jesus & his brother stopper Aero Chavez who were playing for Fateh club California, were big attraction. When ever Jesus scored a point he did show acrobatic jumps which mesmerized the spectators. Stopper Dante of African American origin played well for runner-up Miri Piri Sports club team.

In Volleyball matches Toni Sanghera`s ‘Illinois Sikh Community Sports Club’ team was the winner in Volleyball tournament and Lakbir Dhindsa`s team from Madison, WI was the runner-up. Volleyball prizes were sponsered by Amarjit Singh Dhindsa.

The sports festival started with prayers by Bhai Gurjant Singh, Head Granthi of Gurdwara Palatine. A prayer was made in the memory of those killed in shoot out inside Oak Creek Gurdwara, WI last year.
There was lot of free food for the spectators who enjoyed Jalebi and Pakoras along with tea. In lunch lamb, Chhole and rice were served. Royal Sweets Chicago and Clay Owen, Schaumburg catered the food. The food was free and there was no entry fee. Women also came to see the festival in large numbers.

The event was successful with the generous donation by event sponsors. The sponsors were recognized and presented plaques.

The board members of the club Amritpal Singh Gill (President), Ravinderpal Singh Nandra (Chairman), Rachhpal Singh Khangura, Jaswinder Jassi, Jinder Benipal, Satnam Singh Minhas, Deepa Bandesha, Ravinder Khaira, Nazar Singh Gill, Babby Bath, Kabul Singh Bhullar, Baljit Singh Mangi, Chaman Lal, Surinder Bhatti, Balwinder Chatha, Harbant Singh Grewal, Dharminder Singh Jaswal, Parminder Walia, Jindi Khangura and Amardev Bandesha worked hard to make the event success. Club president Mr. Amritpal Gill and all members thanked all the spectators and supporters. The whole event was telecasted live by Global Punjab channel.