In front of a sold out crowd The Punjabi Sports Player of the Year awards 2013 ceremony took place at Grand Taj, Surrey on Sunday, June 2, 2013. Over 1000 people celebrated the marvelous evening of First Punjabi Sports Awards. The award ceremony recognized the best sportspersons of South Asian community in Canada.
Brain child of Goldie Dhillon, CEO and founder of the Punjabi Sports, it consisted of 16 awards to superstar players of various sports and 40 awards to junior U-21 and U-15 players. According to the organizers first time such kind of sports awards introduced.
Honored persons announced for the awards are:
• Body Builder Ram Gill from Richmond Firefighters, Kal Dosanjh (Detective, Vancouver Police Department), Bindi Mackoruk, Sandy Dosanjh, Aman Aujla, Jagjit Athwal and Romi Gill were honored.
• Coach Makhan Sandhu (Weightlifting), Jassie Dosanjh (Athletics), Mantej Dhillon (Soccer), Nick Sandhu (Field Hockey) were the guest speakers.
• Super Stars award were given to Derrick Bassi (Soccer) and Kultar Gill (MMA), Hardeep Tauo (Kabaddi), Sofia Walia, Poonam Sandhu, Ranjeev Deol (All Field Hockey), Hardeep Saran (Boxing), Jasmin Dhanda (Soccer), Jasmit Phulka, Many Kahlon (Wrestling), Surinder Sra (Skeet Shooting), Jimmy Hansra (Cricket) Prabdeep Sanghera (Weightlifting)
• Junior U-21 players from different sports categories
• Junior U-15 players from different sports categories
Event was hosted by Tarannum Thind (Entertainment host at Omni Television) and C.J. Sidhu. The famous Punjabi singer and actor, Sarbjeet Cheema, performed at the show. Entertainment included a special item of dhol, bhangra and other performers as Hardeep Cheema and Bobby Singh.
Punjabi Sports recognized contribution of VPD detective Kal Dosanjh who has demonstrated leadership and activism against drugs during his speech.
Several civic and religious leaders, as well as representatives of political, business, sport and the arts were present at the occasion to honor track and field heroes and heroines of the community. Several leaders have sent messages of support to the event.
BC Premier Christy Clark , who was not able to attend, sent her special greetings to Punjabi Sports for organizing this Award Show and Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts also sent her message. Sports Minister of Canada Bal Gosal also shared his gratitude to Punjabi Sports for making a great platform for the youth sportspersons’ recognition. Guest of Honor at the event, newly elected Liberal MLA, Amrik Virk said: “I am pleased and honored to be taking part in this Awards ceremony, celebrating the achievements of some real role models in our community.
