By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, May 31: The Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament Penpa Tsering on Saturday inaugurated the 21st Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup football tournament, the most coveted sporting event of the Tibetan diaspora at Upper TCV School football field.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the GCM Cup, Speaker Tsering said that the players fulfill a big responsibility to spread awareness on Tibet through the game.
“Play the game like a game. If the game which is played to make friendship and unity creates disunity or hatred among the players, it does not serve the purpose of the GCM Cup,” said Tsering.
The opening ceremony began with a March Past by the 28 teams taking part in this year’s league cum knock out tournament. Thousands of Tibetans, foreigners and locals packed the pavilions to watch the first day’s games.
A theme song for the GCM Cup was performed along with school children by Dawa Tashi and Daw Bhuti.
The opening match was played between defending champions Pokhra Tashiling and new entry RTYC Chandigarh. Tashiling Pokhra won the match by 1-0. The second match played between Bir United and New York resulted in a tie with 2 goals each. Both teams settled for one point each in the contest where a team gets to play only two matches to qualify to the quarter finals.
Kalsang Dhundup, Chairman of Tibetan National Sports Association said that the tournament provides a platform where Tibetan youths can come together and create an environment for friendship and unity.
28 Tibetan football clubs and 448 players from the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Nepal and India are participating in the tournament.
The Tibetan Prime Minister Dr Lobsang Sangay will be the Chief Guest for the final game and closing ceremony of the tournament scheduled for June 10.
The tournament was first held in 1981 in memory if the late mother of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This year, the tournament is dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama turning 80.
The Tibetan Sports Association (TSA) took over the responsibility of organizing the GCMGC in 2003 and has cine used the tournament to hone fresh talents and select Tibetan football players for the Tibetan national football team. The team played its first match against Greenland, and represented Tibet in various tournaments within India and abroad.
