The 2025 Tournament
Shaheedi Sports Council is pleased to announce that it held its 28th annual Sports Festival at Hillgrounds Playing Fields, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8QG on Saturday 28th and 29th of June, 2025.
Shaheedi Sports Council is a voluntary non profit making organisation which strives to promote sports activities among asian communities in Bedford. All the committee members and organisers are unpaid volunteers, which donates own funds for the success of the sports . Main mission of our organisation is to promote cohesion among all communities in Bedford and raise sports awareness among the ethnic minorities..
The tournament was a big success, where Football, Volleyball, Kabaddi, Tug of war and athletics took place. On this day the weather was beautiful and dry and vistors attended the event in thousands. There was a Bhangra and Giddha events for the entertainment of the audience. Bhangra and Giddha are the tradional Punjabi folk dances which is commonly played during all happy occasions in Punjab and India. Majority of the Bolleywood movies contains Bhangra songs to enhance the movies.
A number of dignitaries attended the event to appreciate this event, which includes Mohammad Yasin MP for Bedford and Kempston, Colleen Atkins the Deputy Mayor of Bedford, Mohammed Nawaz Mayor of Kempston Town Council, Cllr. Henry Vann Group Leader Liberal Democrats , Cllr Carl Meeder. The kabbadi event was sponsered by SD fish and Bar’s owner Surjit Dhanju who awarded £1500 to the winning kabbadi team, £1000 to the runner up team and £500 each to the best raider and best defender. There was a lot of excitmant during this game where hundreds of pounds were awarded to the outstanding players by the visitors as a token of gesture.
There was also good fun during the Tug of War game where 3 teams took part.
Every team tried their best to win the competition but in the final SD Fish and War team was the winner.
In Volleyball total 24 teams took part,
The cup winners team was SGGS
Shield winners were Aryan Tigers
Ace of Spikers Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Bedford and Malwa Blockers GNG Bedford were among the competing teams.
In Football matches
Senior Football group A. Shere Punjab Birmingham and Hounslow teams, Hounslow team was the winner
Group B . GNG Queens Park, Guru Ravidass Birmingham, Barking. Group B winner was Guru Ravidass Birmingham
Final . Hounslow winner and runners up Guru Ravidass team Birmingham
Over 45’s ; GNG Bedford, FC Khalsa Leicester and Singh Sabha Slough.
Final. Singh Sabha Slough winner
FC Khalsa Leicester Runners up.
In the morning , tea and Pakora Langar was provided by Guru Ravidass Gurdwara Bedford and main food langer was served by the joint efforts of Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Queens Park, Bedford and Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara Kempston.
Local shokeepers and other small businesses donated funds towards this event. Also among the sponsors were Bedford Borough Council Bedford, Premier Solicitors Bedford . Without their financial support, the tournament was vitually impossible to hold,. Shaheedi Sports Council is whole heartedly thank ful for their financial assistance and looking forward in the coming years as well.
The whole event was live covered on YouTube by Shingara Singh Randhawa . Recording of this tournament was shown later on PBC asian TV.
On the whole the tounament was very successful and all the spectators and players enjoyed the whole event throughly.
