The 72nd Gurdwara Cup & Sikh Festival of Sports 2024 was officially launched by YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports, today at the Royal Selangor Club in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur,
The Games are organised by the Malaysian-Singapore Sikh Sports Council (MSSSC) and hosted by the Kuala Lumpur Sikh Sports and Recreation Club.
The participating states are Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Perak, Pahang, Kedah, Penang, Sarawak and Singapore.
The launch of the 72nd Gurdwara Cup Games was also attended by the Honourable Justice Datuk Harminder Singh Dhaliwal, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) President Tan Sri Dato Sri (Dr) Mohamad Norza Zakaria, Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) President Dato Seri Subahan Kamal and several other dignitaries.
President of the Malaysia-Singapore Sikh Sports Club (MSSSC) Mr Baljit Singh, and Kuala Lumpur Sikh and Sports Recreation Club (KLSSRC) President Datuk Baldev Singh Kailay also delivered their welcoming speeches.
The Games, aimed at fostering camaraderie between the Sikh community from in the country, including Singapore, commence today and conclude on June 1. The events contested are hockey, football, netball, golf, badminton, darts and pool.
In her opening welcoming address, YB Hannah congratulated the organisers and athletes for their commitment and discipleship in their glowing interest in sports. The Games saw the participation of almost 900 athletes.
“I am pleased to note that KLSSRC has taken advantage of the Ministry’s Geran Padanan Sukan (GPS) and had RM38,000 approved to support the organising of these games. The goal of GPS is to encourage the organisation of high-performance sports events,” said Hannah.
“It is the goal of the Ministry to cultivate a vibrant sporting culture. The Ministry recently unveiled details of the RM1,000 tax exemption announced in Budget 2024. This for the first time applies to coaching and covers 103 different registered, double from the 51 previously. I hope that you will encourage your members to fully utilise this,” she added.
Apart from the grant from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Gurdwara Cup Games also received a generous contribution of RM38,000 from YB Dato’ Dr. Ramli Mohd Nor, the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives).
On a request from Datuk Baldev in his speech for a higher allocation from her ministry, YB Hannah replied:
“I will utilise my minister’s allocation of RM50,000 and contribute it towards the Gurdwara Cup Games. It is the aspiration of the ministry to see more sporting events involving different communities, young and old, in our country,” said Hannah, adding that she is pleased to see events involving veterans such as that in men’s hockey, golf, football, darts and pool included in the Games.
“It is important for veteran athletes and seniors to keep a healthy lifestyle by indulging in sporting activities,” she added.
Gurdwara Cup Games events schedule:
Men’s hockey – veterans (May 30), seniors and juniors (May 29-June 1). Tun Razak Hockey Stadium, Jalan Duta.
Football – seniors and juniors (May 29-June 1); veterans (30 May).
Netball (Open and Under-18 – May 31-June 1); Under-13 (June 1)
Badminton (30-31 May) – Petronas Badminton Academy, Bukit Kiara
Golf (31 May) – Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGC)
Darts & Pool (31 May) – Grandstand Sports Bar, Section 19, PJ.
