60th Gurdwara Cup & Sikh Festival of Sports 2011 (Opening Ceremony)

I have to admit that despite this being the 60th Gurdwara Cup, I have never heard of it before. Yes, how ignorant. Today, I attended the opening ceremony out of curiosity.

One of the officials briefed me on the Sikh Festival of Sports, a sports meet for Sikhs in Malaysia and Singapore. Imagine, this annual event was first held in 1952 and Ipoh was the host! After 60 years and gathering in various cities in the country and Singapore, the Sikh Festival of Sports is back in Ipoh, and my, has it grown tremendously. There are more than a thousand Sikhs involved in this year’s Festival, from participants to officials to marching school boys.

I was also told that this is the only major community-based sporting event in the country. This is a good way for the Sikhs in Malaysia and Singapore to unite. It has definitely made them very close-knitted.

NS Contingent — Negeri Sembilan Contingent

Five sports will be played during this 60th Gurdwara Cup, namely football (senior and junior categories), netball, badminton, golf and hockey (senior and junior categories). Matches will be held at various venues in Ipoh. Today’s event at Stadium Azlan Shah is just the opening ceremony. Unfortunately, I had to give the fireworks a miss as I had to be somewhere else.

Sikh sports meet — participants from Malaysia and Singapore

Event: 60th Gurdwara Cup & Sikh Festival of Sports 2011
Venue: Stadium Azlan Shah, Ipoh
Date: 8th (opening ceremony) – 11th June, 2011

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