Three-day Football Khed Mela in memory of ex-minister Gurbinder Atwal kicks off

With the aim of keeping the youth away from drugs and to convey the message to shun drugs, a three-day Football Cup Khed Mela started today in the memory of former Punjab minister and Congress leader Gurbinder Singh Atwal. The mela that started today will conclude on February 9.

Football Academy, Phillaur, is organising the mela in which games like tug-of-war, kabaddi, basketball and football would be played.

The games are being played on the ground of Government School (Boys), Phillaur.

Rajpal Singh Atwal, son of Gurbinder Singh Atwal, said that the football tournament was started eight years ago by his father. “After his death in 2023, we decided to host a Khed Mela in his memory and it will be the second year of the mela. He loved sports and we want to keep this alive,” said an emotional son.

Football matches in the (Open) and Under-16 category, basketball, kabaddi national style in the Under-19 category are among the events being held. In football (Open), as many as 14 teams are participating and in other games, eight teams are taking part.

The first prize for the Football Cup winning team will be Rs 75,000 and the second prize will be Rs 41,000.

For football in the Under-16 category, Rs 21,000 will be given to the winners while Rs 15,000 will be given to the second position holder. In basketball, Rs 31,000 will be given to the winning team and Rs 21,000 to the runners-up.

Rs 15,000 cash award will be given to the winning team in Kabaddi (Under-19) and Rs 11,000 will be given to the team coming second.

The sports fair will be attended by the former cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on February 8.

The sole purpose of organising the event is to divert the young generation from drugs which have found their way everywhere, Atwal said.

“We want to encourage the youngsters to take up sports,” he told The Tribune.