Sports along with the Culture was the experience at the 35th Australian Sikh Games 2023

From the News Desk, Australia

India News: The 35th Australian Sikh Games in Brisbane during the easter weekend 2023 held in the City of Gold Coast Council was a successful event with 4700 athletes participating in various sports especially traditional Punjabi sports as well as Australian sports. Sports such as cricket, soccer, netball along with the Sikh Games featuring India's national sport, hockey, and the culturally rooted, extremely popular and physical sport of Kabbadi were the highlight sports played in these Sikh Games.

The City of Gold Coast community supported the massive event by attending the games and encouraging the players. There were about 200000 spectators who attended the event over the three days. Dignitaries who attended the event were Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Mayor Tom Tait, James Martin MP, Cr Cameron Caldwell, Sam O'Connor MP present at the opening ceremony at 35th Australian Sikh Games Brisbane 2023.

The highlights of the games was the girls team winning the Netball event. PCAQ (Brisbane) were Netball Opens Winners 2023 at the event. These girls remained undefeated throughout the entire competition.

The gist of these games was educating the next generation, the Australian values as well as staying close to their roots, their language and the culture of their kins.

Apart from the games there were cultural programs arranged by the organisers. Cultural Coordinator for the games Mrs. Jyoti-Amarjyot Bains Goraya says, “ I have been a netball player in the past Brisbane games but this year I organised the cultural program. The cultural stage not only catered to the live singers and dancers but also held theatrical short comedy plays.

Children were also felicitated for academic excellence at this event.”

All three days langar (community kitchen serving free food) was served to all who attended the event. A Punjabi culture of serving free food to all attending the gurudwara regardless of the religion.

Overall the event was a complete culture plus sports excellence event bringing the Indian diaspora as well as the Australians living in Brisbane together.