TEANECK, N.J.: First Sikh Children’s Games and Cultural Event was held on June 24th 1989 at the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck New Jersey, in their lush greens lawns. Children and parents from tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut participated.
The host community was from Northern New Jersey, mostly the members of the congregation of Siri Guru Singh Sabha (S.G.S.S) Gurdwara of Glenn Rock. There was full cooperation from all the Sikh community members from various boros and towns and Sikh organizations.
The Mayor of Glenn Rock, New Jersey, Mr. Eugene Becken, inaugurated the games and dis- tribute prizes. He said he was very much impressed by the arrangements, discipline and the vitality of Sikh children and young adults.
There were about three hundred children and about two hundred adults who attended the function.
The games started with the pledge of allegiance to the American Flag, a salute to the Nishan Sahib and Oath ceremony by the athletes taken by Gurinder Singh Collotia.
The Chief organizer and master of ceremonies was Dr. Satwant Kaur Dhamoon, President, Sikh Women’s International Organization. S. Kamiker Singh, President S.G.S.S., Glen Rock, New Jersey, welcomed the mayor and intro- duced S. Swaran Singh Gandhoke, Chairman Board of Trusties and member of the reception committee.
Mrs. Davinder Kaur and S. Pritpal Singh Khalsa a well-known and well decorated National athlete from India, was incharge of the games.
There were four main teams, one each from Bridgewater, South New Jersey; The Glenn Rockers; Mid-Hudson, New York; and Long Islanders. Most teams had their T-shirts on with the insignia of the First Annual Sikh Children’s Games & Cultural Event.
At the opening ceremony Dr. Dhamoon dedicated the games to the memory of S. Jasprit Singh son of S. Inderjit Singh, who had committed suicide in Feb. 89 at the young age of 16 years, She said that “his death came to the com- munity like an electric shock and we decided to get involved with children’s lives in a lighter vein besides the Gurudwara Sangat.” She also said that “a child had to give his life to awaken us to initiate today’s programs which are meant to bring the Sikh Children from far and near together and to let the parents get involved with the children’s activities, physically and at an intellectual and artistic level.” All the teams competed in various sports events such as Volley Ball, track races, and even in our traditional Kabaddi. The younger kids in the “musical chairs” was a delight to watch. Even the parents joined in for a challenging game of “tug of war.”
After a sumptuous lunch intellectual discussion took place be- tween the audience and the pane- list. The topics covered were, the “family unit”, “Children in the Sikh community” and the “Gen- eration Gap”. The penalists taking part in this stimulating discussion were Mrs. Parmeet Kaur Kharbanda B.A.L.L.B., Cherjeevan Kaur Turna (18) and Naunihal Singh from Yale, both are enterprising College Students. Prof Inderjit Singh from N.Y. University served as the moderator. Mrs. Naginder Kaur Puri, an announcer of Sikh
Broadcasting Network noted a colorful mélange of Gidhas, Bhangras, folk dances, which captured the audience. Talented boys and girls from the various Boros dis- played their dancing and musical skills which the audience clapped to the beat of the music. As the evening of cultural galore ended people awaited anxiously for the winning raffle to be drawn. The prizes of the winners of the sports
and cultural competition were announced by Dr. S.K. Dhamoon and awarded by S. Kamikker Singh Grewal, President, S.G.S.S. Glen Rock, Dr. Dhamoon was also recognized for her steadfast dedication to the children’s activities and inception and organization of the days program. The festive evening brought the community together and brought back memories of Punjab to many.
Everyone is looking forward for the second annual children’s event now.
Mrs. Prabhjot Kaur was honored in absentia, being a nationally and internationally decorated athlete and known as the “Queen of Asia” in athletic circles. The trophy was awarded by the Sikh Women International Organization.
The Glen Rockers aggregated maximum points to win the “Late Sardar Boota Singh Sokhi” Running trophy for the year 1989. The Glen Rocker’s Gidha team ‘was outstanding in its performance. Some Solo dances were given by six year old girls which won them prizes.
The organizers had been working for over two months to make it a success. The crown for the organization of athletic events goes to S. Pritpal Singh Khalsa without who- se expertise and untiring whole- hearted involvement, a program such, as this could not have been run in such an organized way. All food and drinks were provided free by the members of the host community.
Some mothers stayed behind to cook lunch for five hundred people, and as such missed the children’s games.
At the end of the events the place were left so clean that the E.D.U representative was very impressed and especially remarked about it. It seemed everyone who. came there enjoyed and left with happy memories.
The Winners First Annual Sikh Children’s Games June 1989
Track Events 50 Meter Age 6-10 Years Boys
- Kuljit Roy (Mid Hudson
- Maninder Singh (Glenn
Rock)
- Kandjit Singh (Glen Rock),
Girls
- Rupinder Kaur (Mid Hudson)
- Sandip Kaur (Mid Hudson)
- Jagmit Kaur (Glen Rock)
100 Meter Age 11-15 Years Boys
- O.P. (Glen Rock) 2. Surjit Singh (Glen Rock) 8. Kalinder Singh (Glen Rock) Girls
- Parminder Collotial S.,R.1. 2. Manjot Kuar (Mid Hud- son),
- Amarinder Jot (Mid Hud- son)
100 Meter Age 16-21 Years
- Jasdip Singh (Bridge- water) 2. Arvinder Singh (Glen Rock) 3. Gurinder Singh (Glen Rock) Girls 1. Raj Narind (Bridgewater) 2. Vainfa Ahluwalia (Glen Rock) 8. Randip Kaur (Glen Rock)
Gils
1 Mile Age 12-15 years Boys 1. Surjit S. Collotia (Glen
Rock) 2. Belraj Singh (Mid Hud- son) 3. Kulminder Singh (L.R.) Age 16-21 1. Kamaldip Singh (Bridge- water) 2. Jasdip Singh (Bridge- water) 3. Amardip Bhelle (Glen Rock)
Girls 1. Randip Kaur (Glen Rock) 2. Rajnarind (Bridgewater) 3. Pinki Collotia (Glen Rock)
1 Mile Relay Age 6-10 years 1st Bridgewater Team Jagtar Soai and Ranbir 2nd Glen Rock 3rd Mid Hudson Age 12 — 15 years 1st Mid Hudson Prime, Jatinder, Milan, Ban- jot 2nd Glen Rock
Girls 1. Heena Bhetie (Mid Hud- son) 2. Jasprit Kaur (Glen Rock) 3. Soine Singh (Glen Rock)
1st Mid Hudson
Manjot, Amanderjot, Herne Bhilie and Parminder Bhangoo
2nd Bridgewater
Age 16-21 Years
1st Bridgewater
“Kamdip Manjit, Gurdip & Jardeep
2nd Glen Rock
1st Long Islanders
Mijasba Juhi Deep Marita Se- thi
2nd Mid Hudson
Track Race
50 Meter
Under 5 years
1st Garjandip Singh Sardar (Bridgewater)
2nd Dimple Kaur (Bridge- water)
3rd Raj (Glen Rock)
Tug of War 6-12 years
1st Mid Hudson 2nd Glen Rock 3rd Bridgewater
Parents Fathers 1st Glen Rock
Mothers Mid Hudson
Musical Chairs Boys 6-10 Years
1st Vikram Singh (Glen Rock) 2nd Kanaljit Singh (Glen Rock) 3rd Survinder Singh (Glen Rock)
Girls
1st Amanprit Kaur (Glen Rock), 2nd Anita (Glen Rock) $rd Kilan (Bridgewater) VolleyBall (Co-ed) 1st Mid Hudson 2nd Long Island.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 14, 1989
