KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar launched the 71st Gurdwara Cup and Sikh Festival of Sports at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru today.

The four-day event will see the participation of around 1,500 players competing in hockey, football, badminton, netball and golf tournaments.

Held since 1949, the Gurdwara Cup is among Malaysia’s oldest sporting events, and brings together the Sikh community from Malaysia and Singapore.

The Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band, which won the World Pipe Band Championship in Scotland in 2019, greeted Sultan Ibrahim for the opening ceremony today, and was followed by march-past guided by the 6th Royal Malay Regiment that was based in Ulu Tiram, Johor.

Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, State Secretary Tan Sri Azmi Rohani, state executive council member Mohd Hairi Mad Shah, Johor Sikhs Sports Club (JSSC) president Paramjit Singh, and Malaysia-Singapore Sikhs Sports Club president Baljit Singh.