Ludhiana, November 19
The three-day Khalsa Sports Festival being organised by the Nankana Sahib Education Trust under the aegis of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) got off to a colourful start here today. The venue of the festival, Guru Nanak Engineering College, was decorated with flags and flowers and the participants trooped into the main ground of the college, dressed in bright “Khalsai” colour and turbaned with “khandaa.”

Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, inaugurated the festival in which more than 1,000 sportspersons from 21 colleges, patronised by the SGPC, spread all over the country are taking part.

Mr Dalmegh Singh, secretary, SGPC, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, former Punjab minister and secretary, Nankana Sahib Education Trust, Mr Kewal Singh Badal, Mr Harvinder Singh Gill, Mr Davinder Singh Cheema, Mr Gurmail Singh Sangowal, Bibi Harbans Kaur, Mr Hira Singh Gabria, Mr Gurmohan Singh Walia and Mr Birender Singh were among the eminent persons present at the inaugural function.

Addressing the sportspersons, Bibi Jagir Kaur said it was a matter of concern that the young generation was under the influence of drugs. She stressed the need for an increased awareness among the students regarding ill-effects of drug abuse and motivation to abide them by the ethics of Sikh culture and channelise their energies in sports.

She also announced the next Khalsa Sports Meet to be held at Taran Tarn on the occasion of the 4th centenary celebrations of Guru Arjun Dev Ji.

Mr Dalmeg Singh announced a cash prize of Rs 11,000 for the participating teams as token of appreciation. Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal said a cash prize of Rs 5,100 each would be given to the best boy athlete and the best girl athlete.

Today’s results: (Girls): 800 m: Sukhjit Kaur of Mata Sahib Kaur Girls College, Talwandi Sabo 1; Narinder Kaur of Talwandi Sabo 2; and Payal Gosar of Khalsa College, Mumbai, 3; hammer throw: Nayana of Khalsa College, Mumbai 1; Sarabjeet Kaur of Talwandi Sabo 2; and Jasdeep Kaur of MGKC, Kota Manji Sahib, 3; kabaddi: Khalsa College, Patiala, beat BAM Khalsa College, Garhshankar, 3-1; GNK College, Mumbai, beat GGS Khalsa College, Jhar Sahib, 66-19; volleyball: GNCG, Muktsar, beat Mata Sundari Khalsa College, Karnal, 25-0, 25-1 and 25-3; kho-kho: MS Khalsa College, Karnal, beat MSK College of Education, Patiala.

(Boys) 800 m: Siddhesh Machivale of Khalsa College, Mumbai, 1; Atheeth Shety of Khalsa College, Mumbai, 2; and Hardeep Singh of GN College, Batala 3; football: GN College, Mumbai, beat GN College, Moga, 1-0; table tennis: GNE College, Ludhiana, beat Trai Satabadi Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Amritsar; Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, got walkover to Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic College, Ludhiana.