Opening ceremony of 'Sikh Football Cup', dedicated to Guru Nanak Ji's 550th birth anniversary, will be held at Amritsar on November 23 in the Khalsa College. This was disclosed by Khalsa Football Club (Khalsa FC) President Harjit Singh Grewal. He was interacting with members of Khalsa FC and coaches.Giving more information about the 'Sikh Football Cup', Grewal said in this inter-district tournament, Keshdari players from the age of 14 to 21 years will take part. He informed that this event is being organised by Khalsa FC in association with Global Sikh Sports Federation (GSSF). He said, "the main purpose of the GSSF is to promote popular sports among Sikhs, including Sikh sports, in keeping with the highest Sikh principles. He said this football cup would be held in all districts of the state from 23 November under the FIFA rules.He further added that the Khalsa FC, affiliated to Punjab Football Association, would conduct selection trials in every district from October 29 to November 2 to select district level Keshdari football teams. Subsequently, the state-level finals and closing ceremony would be held on December 7 at S.A.S. Nagar.Explaining the aims of the club, football promoter and sport enthusiast Grewal said this unique kind of tournament would also promote Punjabi culture and Sikh identity around the world. In addition, this tournament would also help young boys to overcome drug abuse and return to their sporting activities.
In addition to this, the players would be able to brighten their future by adopting the football as a profession.While highlighting the benefits the players would receive from Khalsa FC, he said all the district Kesdhari teams would get sports kits, jerseys and track suits as well as the allowances. The winning team will be awarded with cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and the runner up to take away Rs 3 lakh. In addition, the coaches of both teams would also be honored with cash prizes of Rs 51,000 and Rs 31,000 respectively.He said that martial art Gatka teams would also perform their skills during all football matches in the districts. He said this Sikh Football Cup would be organized every year in association with Punjab Sports Department. He also said that the Khalsa FC would serve as a platform for football players so that they could strike cords with the popular football clubs. He informed that a mobile application has also been launched besides Khalsa FC website.On this occasion, Prominent among other were present in the meeting included Chanpreet Singh Sohal, Shubham Mahajan,Rakshak Kundra, Davinder Singh, Amritpal Singh (Khalsa Club Amritsar), Amarjeet Singh Sohal, Daljeet singh Bahgapurana, Baljit singh Ferozepur, Bhupinder Singh, Football Coach Amirtsar Daljit Singh, Sports incharge Ramkirat Singh, Amarbir Singh, Harjeet singh, Lovedeep Singh, Jasmanjeet Singh, Jaspal Singh, Gurdev Singh and Kanwalpreet Singh were present.