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CONGKAK
NETBALL
NETBALL
HOCKEY
SOCCER
KJ CAGED
THE Meteorological department had predicted March 20 to be sizzling hot, but forgot to mention that they had the Holla Mahala at Kelab Aman in mind.
The sun came out briefly, on an otherwise cool and cloudy day, to peek at about 500 participants and supporters who turned up to play a motley of games including scrabble, carom, congkak, chess, arm-wrestling, tug-a-war, soccer, hockey, netball and mini games for kids..
Many other games like badminton, athletics and futsal had already started a week ago.
But first lets have a look at the origin of the Holla Mahala.
According to http://www.sikhiwiki.org/: "Hola Mohalla" stands for "mock fight". During this festival, processions are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one Gurdwara to another. The custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh who held the first such mock fight event at Anandpur in February 1701.
And true to the meaning, the Sikh Naujawan Sabha-organised event saw many battle-fronts being fought simultaneously and the biggest winners were the youth who turned up in great numbers to represent their Gurdwaras.
This article will not name the various winners in each sport, but will touch on the spirit of the Games itself.
For starters, the under-12 events were a joy to watch as Sikhs and Kaurs of every size, some athletic while some a little portly, giving their very best wearing T-shirts emblazoned with their Gurdwara names.
Even though many of the Holla Mahala participants were not from the respective Gurdwaras they represented, it made no difference.
Tat Khalsa, High Street, Kampung Pandan, Pulapol, Selayang, Parlimen and even Bukit Beruntung T-Shirts were proudly worn by the athletes.
Yes, there is a Gurdwara in Bukit Beruntung, as this scribe found out after making enquiries.
The idea, mooted by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, was the introduce a healthy sporting culture and it was evident that the Games held thousands of miles away from Anandpur Sahib were just that -- sporting and full of culture.
But sad to say, it is being held only by Gurdwaras in the Klang Valley, while other states have yet to catch on to this great idea.
One Sikh loudly lamented: "We have more than 40 Gurdwaras in Perak, and some are walking distance from each other. I wonder why no such games are being organised over there?"
Right on brother.
It is highly recommended that states which have a large Sikh population hold grand scale Holla Mahala games next year to scout for Gurdwara Cup athletes. Don't blame Klang Valley athletes if they make a clean sweep in Seremban after this.
For, preparations for this Games started a month ago, with youth seriously training and eating right to get fit for the Big Day.
Come rain or shine, literally, Under-21, Under-16 and Under-12 hockey boys trained at the Kelab Aman grounds for a month on Fridays from 9pm to midnight.
Yes, ending at midnight, and reaching home at 1am only to bounce out of bed by 7am the next day for morning drills.
The athletes, coaches, team managers, organisers, volunteers, Gurdwaras (which provided attire, food and drinks) and Kelab Aman were simply amazing in making this event a great success.
The Games even managed to attract Sports Minister KJ, and so, all of you deserve a jaikara ... Jo Bole So Nihal...
Note: For over 500 pictures of the Games visit Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia FaceBook.
WORLD No 1 Australia whitewashed the Three-Test series with a 4-0 win yesterday, but Malaysia were the biggest winners in the Down Under Tour.
Australia won 7-1, 5-0 and finally the margin was reduced to 4-0 heading into the Azlan Shah Cup on April 6-16 in Ipoh.
Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Japan and Canada will be in action in Ipoh, with four of the teams preparing for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) technical director, Terry Walsh, who watched the matches said: "Malaysia made some good chances in the final period of the match and have shown significant progress over the past 10 days.
"Overall Australia were clearly too strong but when confidence was there, we had some good moments. It was a very tiring series but very good lessons were learned.
"We turned in some good performances which is very encouraging for Malaysian hockey. The coaches and players have done well and we collectively realise that there is still work to be done."
The team will return today and have a short break before resuming camp for the Azlan Shah Cup.
"During the playing tour with New Zealand, South Korea and Australia we have clearly uncovered key performance areas for us to be focused upon as we progress towards qualifying for the World Cup, Tokyo Olympics and Asian Games."
IT WAS a proud moment for siblings Pavandip Singh and Kirandeep Kaur Gurdip Singh when they were selected for the National Under-16 Boys' and Girls' camps to be held in Ipoh alongside the Azlan Shah Cup on April 6-16.
Pavandip, 16, and Kirandeep, 13, turned up for Kuala Lumpur in the recently concluded National Under-16 and impressed the selectors, among which was former national skipper Nor Saiful Zaini.
"There were a number of players who showed promise in the Under-16 tournament and we have selected 30 boys (out of which five are goalkeepers) and 30 girls (four goalkeepers) to attend a training camp in Ipoh alongside the Azlan Shah Cup.
"This is the first batch that will be groomed for the next Junior World Cup qualifier as well as the World Cup," said Nor Saiful.
However, the players must keep improving, as those who lag will be dropped and added with fresh talent alonmg the way, added Nor Saiful.
BOYS' -- Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin (Johor), Haridzmi Abdullah (Johor), Krishanraj Singh (Johor), Syed Lokman (Johor, GK), Pavandip Singh s/o Gurdip Singh (KL), Zulfitri Zin (Kelantan), Noor Firdaus (Kelantan), Amirul Syukri (Malacca), Muhibuddin Moharam (Malacca), Hafiz Zauri (Pahang), Arif Syafie (Pahang), Syamin Naim (Pahang), Hamiz Ahir (Pahang, GK), Faiz Danial (Penang), Solehuddin Yuzaidi (Penang), Rami Latif (Penang, GK), Amirul Hamizan (Penang), Hafizal Halmi (Perak), Danial Ahmad (Perak, GK), Akram Hakkam (Perak), Hasdar Haruna (Sabah), Clement Tsai (Sabah), Saifuddin Azli (Sabah), Granson Noel (Sabah), Faiz Aiman (Sabah), Halif Fadzly (Selangor), Helmi Fazli (Selangor, GK), Zafri Afiq (Selangor), Akhimullah Anuar (Terengganu), Syarman Mat Tee (Terengganu).
GIRLS' -- Nur Iwana Jamaluddin (Perak), Nutafwani shukri (Perak),(Selangor), Nur Sofia Annan (Selangor, GK), Nur Izzatul (Selangor), Nur Insyirah (Selangor), Ellya Amanina (Selangor), Dayang Nuramirah (Selangor), Siti Rozailah Syuhada (Sabah, GK), Nurain Moun (Sabah),
Iren Hussin (Sabah), Nor Asfarina Isahyifiqa (Sabah), Ennah Marin (Sabah), Nurul Faezah (Malacca), Nurul Farawahida (Malacca), Siti Zulaika (Pahang), Farah Hanim (Penang), Putri Nur Batrisyia (Penang),
Siti Nuraisyah (Penang, GK),Nur Maizatul (Penang), Siti Nur Arfah (Penang), Siti Zalia (Kuala Lumpur), Kirandeep Kaur d/o Gurdip Singh (Kuala Lumpur), Siti Nur Amira (Kuala Lumpur), Nur Aishah (Kuala Lumpur), Hasya Syahida (Kuala Lumpur), Nurfatin Dizana (N Sembilan),
Hairryna Aleeza (N Sembilan), Nur Amirah Shakirah (Kedah), Nur Afiqah Syahzani (Kedah).
