Editor : Davinder Kumar

What greater honor can I be given than death for the sake of Mother Earth

Written By Shaheed Udham Singh

62nd All India Principal Harbhajan Cup Round Glass Mohali won

Known as the nursery of football, Mahilpur is a place where football activities are often held, but the oldest and all-India level football tournament in Punjab is the Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Football Tournament, Mahilpur. It was organized for the 62nd time by the Principal Harbhajan Singh Sporting Club. It is the oldest tournament in Punjab, as well as a top-level tournament held according to the rules of the Indian Football Federation.

Known as the nursery of football, Mahilpur is a place where football activities are often held, but the oldest and all-India level football tournament in Punjab is the Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Football Tournament, Mahilpur. It was organized for the 62nd time by the Principal Harbhajan Singh Sporting Club. It is the oldest tournament in Punjab, as well as a top-level tournament held according to the rules of the Indian Football Federation.
Which is led by Kulwant Singh Sangha, who has an international and honest mindset. He has been an international footballer, as well as he is also a promoter of football, kabaddi and wrestling. While living in England, he is working day and night to make the football nursery of Mahilpur green, nurturing the love for his land. The entire team of the club works shoulder to shoulder with him and leaves no stone unturned to make these arrangements excellent. Led by the organizers who worked with courage and dedication, the tournament reached even greater heights this year.
8 academies, 10 colleges and 12 clubs of all India level under 18 age group from Punjab participated in this tournament organized in three categories. League was organized in the club category, while the remaining competitions were held on knock-out basis. Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Stadium of Khalsa College Mahilpur was full of football lovers for the entire eight days. In the academies competition in the under-18 age group, Punjab FC entered the final by defeating Mahalpur Academy. While Punjab FC had to face defeat by 1-0 margin from JCT Academy in the final match. The winner was given a trophy along with Rs 41 thousand and the runner-up was given Rs 31 thousand. In the semi-final match, Babbar Akali Memorial Khalsa College Garhshankar won by three goals over G&A University College.
Similarly, Khalsa College Mahilpur entered the final by defeating Lyallpur Khalsa College in a close match. In a thrilling final match, Khalsa College Mahilpur defeated Khalsa College Gadhshankar by a margin of 1-0 after a tough fight and won a cash prize of Rs. 75,000, while Khalsa College Mahilpur had to settle for Rs. 50,000. In the club semi-final match, Round Glass Mohali defeated IFC Phagwara and Delhi FC defeated RCF Kapurthala. In the club category, Round Glass Mohali defeated Delhi FC by 1-0 due to excellent technical play.
Principal Harbhajan was given a cup along with Rs. 2 lakhs and Mohali was given a trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 1.5 lakhs. Delhi Football Club player Wangshung Lunglang, who plays at a high level, was awarded the Darshan Singh Canadian Award for the best player and Round Glass Mohali player Umang Dudam was awarded the Golden Boot Award by the Swiss for scoring the most goals. Two players were given the Ravindra Singh Rau and Guru Dutt Awards. Annual scholarships were also given to one best player each from Khalsa College Mahilpur, Government Senior Secondary School Boys and Girls and one meritorious student. Not only football players, but football lovers living in India and abroad, football promoters and students of Principal Harbhajan Singh ji also came here specially.
They donated one-tenth of their good earnings to this club. Kundan Singh Sajjan Bambli, Tara Singh Bains Mahmadwal, Satpal Singh Sahota Fatehpur Kothi, Balbir Singh Dar Palli Jhikki increased the honor of the players by donating an amount of 51 thousand each. Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Educational and Sports Trust UK, Canada and USA sent lakhs of rupees for this tournament. These trusts are headed by Jeet Singh Khabra, Anoop Singh Luddu, Daljit Singh Bains and Kulwant Singh Sangha. In this sports festival, young and senior players who have performed excellently at the national and international level remained the center of attraction for the audience.
They also gave information about old games to the new players. Arjun Award winning athlete Madhuri A Singh from Mahilpur was the special guest. Secretary Dr. played an important role in making this national level football tournament technically strong. Parampreet Kandowal, Mahendra Bhatia, Sewak Singh Bains, Harnand Singh Nanda played an excellent role. Taking charge of the stage management, the writer of these lines threw light on the history of football and the heritage of Mahalpur.
Those who worked shoulder to shoulder with the club president Kulwant Singh Sangha included Professor Apinder Singh, General Secretary of Sikh Educational Council, SP Shivinderjit Singh Bains, Amrik Singh Bains, Prince Inderjit Singh, Principal. Members like Parwinder Singh, Jamsher Singh Tambar, Master Baninder Singh, Suhail Gandhi remained engaged even in heavy rain. Inaugurating these competitions, Chabbewal MLA Dr. Ishank Kumar announced to give Rs 10 lakh from the quota of his father Dr. Raj Kumar MP.
The prize distribution ceremony was presided over by Madam Neelam Rodi, wife of Sardar Jai Krishna Singh Rodi, Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly. She presented a cheque of Rs 5 lakh announced last year to the organizers and also announced to give Rs 10 lakh to the club in future.

 

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Editor Nikian Karumbalan
Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur)

- Baljinder Mann
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