What began as a modest effort by village youths a few years ago has grown into a keenly awaited annual sporting event in Sawal village of Kapurthala district. This year, children aged between 13 and 16 organised a spirited under-17 cricket tournament, drawing teams, families and villagers from across the region.
The one-day six-over cricket tournament, held with the support of their cousins settled abroad, saw enthusiastic participation from nearby villages, including Tibba, Naula, Sarai Jatta, Talwandi Chaudhariya and Sujo Kalia. The team from Sujo Kalia emerged victorious, while the host village team finished runner-up.
Interestingly, the excitement was not limited to youngsters alone. Elderly residents of the village also gathered on the ground to cheer for the children, turning the event into a celebration of community spirit.
The tournament tradition was first started in 2023 by village youths, who would organise friendly “show matches” for local children every year. When many of them later moved abroad, the younger boys of the village decided not to let the tradition fade away.
“We started playing cricket after watching our elder brothers in the village. Sports became an important part of our lives,” said 16-year-old Armaan Singh, a Class 12 student from Sawal village. “Around 15 of us thought we should continue the tournament in their absence. We contacted our cousins abroad and asked if they could help us financially, and they supported us.”
Armaan said the tournament is not just about winning matches. “It is a great source of entertainment for us. We also get to meet children from other villages and make new friendships and contacts,” he added.
Thirteen-year-old Ashwinjot Singh, a Class VIII student, said participating in the tournament was a memorable experience. “It felt great to play this time. Everyone enjoyed it a lot,” he said with excitement.
The organisers arranged prize money of Rs 2,100 along with a trophy for the winning team, while the runners-up received Rs 1,500 and a trophy. Refreshments were also distributed among players and visitors.
The young organisers used social media platforms to spread information about the tournament in neighbouring villages, helping attract teams and spectators.
For many villagers, however, the tournament symbolised something far bigger than cricket.
Gajan Singh, an elderly farmer who attended the matches, said seeing children engaged in sports gave him hope. “The biggest satisfaction is that if children stay involved in sports, they will remain away from drugs,” he said.
Apart from cricket, the children of Sawal village also regularly play volleyball in the evenings, spending their free time on playgrounds rather than indoors.
In a time when rural Punjab continues to battle concerns over drug abuse among the youth, the children of Sawal village have created their own answer — cricket practice daily.
