On Sunday, July 20, the Khalsa Diwan Society New Westminster presented weightlifter Jasvir Singh of Burnaby a cheque on behalf of the congregation and sent him off to the Beijing Olympics.
Jasvir Singh is the same athlete that the Khalsa Diwan Society New Westminster in conjunction with other organizations sponsored from India back in 2002 and since then, the champion weightlifter has won many gold medals in Canada and abroad and is now the first weightlifter from B.C. to go to the Olympics in over 20 years ago.
(The VOICE reported last May: “By winning the gold medal at the Senior National Weightlifting Championship held at Montreal on May 17 and 18, Jasvir completed his final round of trials for the selection of the Canadian team for the Olympics.
“Jasvir’s selection was a slam dunk because he won the number one spot in the 2007 qualifying round nationally and he also won a gold for Canada in the 62 kg category at the Pan-American Weightlifting Championship in Peru (March 18-23), which was to select spots for the countries of this hemisphere for the 2008 Olympic Games. Even if had come second in his category, he would have still qualified for the Olympics.
“… In 2005 and 2006, Jasvir was the B.C Champion, record holder and best lifter. In 2006 and 2007, he was the Canadian champion in his 62 kg weight class.”)
Jasvir Singh addressed the congregation of the temple and reached out to the youth and spoke words of inspiration. He said that with hard work and dedication any one of them could become a professional athlete and represent a great nation like Canada at the most prestigious games in the world, the Olympics.
Also present was Harbhajan Singh Lakha, former Indian MP, who travelled from India to see Jasvir Singh off to the Olympics and also encouraged the youth to become more involved in sporting activities.
The congregation presented Jasvir Singh with a cheque for $20,395, which was donated over the last few weeks specifically for his participation at the Beijing Olympics.
It is with great pride that the Khalsa Diwan Society Turban Education program has gone from strength to strength and community to community in the last year. The past weekend like so many before, had volunteers taking part in community events, which not only explained the history of the turban but also the significance of the fabric, colors and styles. Hundreds of turbans were tied on people from all faiths and backgrounds in Surrey and Burnaby.
Last Saturday and Sunday, Surrey’s Fusion Festival, held at Holland Park, had many orange, blue and white turbans, tied by six volunteers on adults and children, men and women, and even some of the organizers and members of Surrey City Council. The turban was such a great hit that people lined up throughout the day waiting patiently for their very own turban.
The same excitement took place at the 24th annual Discovery Day festival at the Shadbolt Centre in Deer Lake Park, Burnaby, last Sunday as many children and adults took part at the turban discovery booth. In addition to the turban tying, Dr. Kala Singh, a prominent Sikh community activist, was on hand presenting an interactive slideshow on the history of the turban and describing different types of turbans throughout the world.
By the way, the Khalsa Diwan Society, New Westminster, holds free turban tying classes every Sunday at 6 p.m. at Gurdwara Sahib SukhSagar in Queensborough.
They are also taking part in the Kensington Community Fair in Burnaby on August 9 with another turban tying educational event.
(CAPTION: Jasvir Singh (center with orange head cover) was presented a cheque of $20,395 by Harbhajan Singh Athwal, President of Khalsa Diwan Society, New Westminster, last Sunday.)
|
