GURU NANAK SPORTS FESTIVAL:
Big support for festival

by Jon Dale

A crowd of up to 5,000 Sikhs is expected to support the annual Guru Nanak Sports Festival at Saffron Lane Stadium next weekend. Event organisers are anticipating a huge turn-out, together with more than 250 competitors from all over the country, for one of the premier events in the Sikh community.

The festival will feature kabaddi, hockey, athletics, weightlifting and wrestling competitions.

Gian Singh, one of the organisers, said: "It's a massive occasion and has proved to be one of the best and most successful festivals organised by the Sikh community in the past."

The Guru Nanak Festival event begins at 9am next Sunday and is set to finish with the trophy presentations at 6pm. The main competition of the day is the Kabaddi tournament with 18 teams scheduled to do battle against each other.

GAMES: Spirit of Sport to the fore at city’s annual festivals

by Matt Bozeat

Teams from across the country did battle in the annual Vaisakhi tournament at Victoria Park. Bradford, London, Gravesend and Birmingham were all represented at the two-day football festival which coincided with the Guru Nanak Sports Festival at Saffron Park.

There was success for local sides as Leicester Sikh Centre grabbed a pair of titles in the Vaisakhi, sweeping to glory in both the under-14 and under-12 sections. Khalsa, from the home city, reached the final of the under-16 section but were beaten by Gravesend in the showpiece showdown.

Their achievement in reaching the final was notable, however, because a strong line-up was assembled.

There were 16 teams in each section, with 64 taking part on the opening day and between 40 and 50 locking horns on the concluding day.

The tournament was dedicated to the Lord Mayor's ‘Spirit of Sport' theme and funds raised over the course of the two days will go to the Lord Mayor's Appeal.

Lord Mayor, Councillor John Allen, said: "It was a huge success and we aim to keep the tournament going.

"There were nearly 2,000 combatants over the two days and it was a wonderful occasion.

"There was a fair play award presented, so it wasn't just the best teams that were rewarded, it was also those that played the game in the right spirit.

"I would like to thank Leicester City Council for joining forces with the Sikh community to stage the event."

Khalsa spokesman Rakbar Singh-Sangra said: "There was lots of good, competitive football.

"I think we saw a few stars of the future over the course of the weekend.

"But the main thing is that everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. That is always the priority."

The titles were shared between sides from across the country, with a Bradford outfit clinching the senior Premier Division title after a hard-fought campaign.

Birmingham took the honours in both the First and Second Divisions, while a London side triumphed in the Third Division.

Leicester City All Stars rolled back the years to beat Khalsa over-35s in a special challenge, with Nicky Platneur wrapping up victory in extra-time.

HOCKEY: Hosts shine during big annual festival

by Matt Bozeat

Leicester stars shone brightly at the annual Guru Nanak Festival at Saffron Lane.
Between 250 and 300 competitors were locked in battle at kabaddi, hockey and athletics over the course of the two-day festival.

Leicester Belgrave were runners up in Group B of a hotly-contested kabaddi tournament and there was further success on the hockey pitch.

Leicester Belgrave finished second behind a strong Birmingham Panthers side after some fiercely-contested clashes.

City hopefuls also thrived on the athletics track.

Leicester runners claimed the top-two spots in the 100 metres for under-eights, with Gavin Singh breaking the tape first followed by Onkar Singh.

Manpreet Singh grabbed glory in the 100 metres for under-13s and the open 400 metres race was also won by a Leicester runner when Jasban Singh clinched glory.

Co-ordinator Gian Singh said: "It was a wonderful occasion.

"The weather was very nice and there was a great turn out of athletes and spectators.

"Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves and that's what matters."