By R. Paul Dhillon
SURREY – The legendary Indian Padma Shri winning cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar was given a great welcome and honoured in high style by Indo-Canadian community leaders, politicians of every stripe and the Indian Consul General Ravi Shankar Aisola, who told a personal story about how his generation admired and were in awe of the great cricketer, at a fabulous reception organized by cricket aficionado Vengsarkar’s friend Varinder Parhar and his team which included event director Jeevan Tauro and many others at the Khanna Banquet Hall last Friday.
Vengsarkar’s visit was designed to promote cricket in BC and across Canada and the night full of fashion and fun also recognized some of the best young cricketers in the lower mainland.
Parhar, who is specializing in event management and corporate branding, said he was very happy with the event turnout and what Vengsarkar’s visit means to the local community and especially the cricket community.
Among his many thanks, Parhar said he would like to extend a special Thanks to Surrey Councillor Tom Gill, who was really instrumental in getting support for the event early on and for supporting the kids and promoting the sport of cricket in surrey.
“Tom was the first person to help me promote cricket back in 2004 to 2006 and I really appreciate his efforts,” Parhar said. “I also appreciate that he came out especially for the event even though he is on vacation.”
Vengsarkar’s visit has certainly rejuvenated the sport and enthused youngsters to get involved and reach higher.
“He’s my friend but he’s also a great ambassador for the sport of cricket,” Parhar said of Vengsarkar. “His visit certainly will help the sport among young kids and give them the inspiration to reach higher.”
Vengsarkar during his wonderful speech at the event recounted his decades long cricket career defined by numerous highlights of his career and graciously thanked Parhar and especially his wife for the great hospitality they had shown him and his wife during their two week visit.
The cricketer, known as the Colonel, holds many records including 116 Test Matches, over 7000 test match runs, 130 one-day international games and the 1983 World Cup team, which he is proud to be a member of.
Vengsarkar said he was thrilled to be invited to Canada, specifically to Vancouver, by his friend Parhar, who he has known during their days together in Bombay.
Well known local actress and model Mannu Sandhu was the emcee along with Kamal Sharma and the evening consisted of entertainment, short speeches, mingling, great food and of course a lot of dancing and drinking.
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