34th Australian Sikh Games A Big Hit

C.ex Coffs International Stadium was the centre stage for kabaddi, which attracted the largest crowd at the 34th Australian Sikh Games.

 

THOUSANDS of players and supporters from across Australia flocked to the 34th Australian Sikh Games 2022 in Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga over the Easter long weekend.

Over three thousand athletes competed as over one hundred thousand spectators enjoyed watching a variety of sports including soccer, netball, hockey, volleyball, cricket, basketball, touch football, tug-o-war, kabaddi, athletics, badminton, golf, tennis and wrestling.

Coffs Harbour were crowned champions of the touch football event where they defeated Sydney 5-1 in the final.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh played in all five matches and scored two tries in the semi final to help his team to the final.

Singh set up Arjun Gill for a try as he evaded the long reach of former Australian fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu, who switched codes for the weekend to represent Sydney.

Despite a shaky start in the final, Singh was pleased how the team bounced back to win the event.

“We started on the back foot and were under pressure from the opening whistle with some last gasp defending, then we had a player sent off so we were down to five players.

“We actually played very well with five players and scored a try and managed not to concede any tries whilst we were a player down.

“As the game wore on we got stronger and were really pleased to run out 5-1 winners.

“We have had so much rain lately we haven’t been able to train so it was great to just get out there and winning was a bonus.

“Despite the wet weekend the events were really well supported but more spectators would have watched if the weather was better,” he said.

The Indian contact sport of kabaddi drew the largest crowd and was played at the main stadium in front of cheering supporters.

The objective of kabbadi is for a single player to run into the opposing team’s half of a court, touch out as many of their defenders as possible, and return to their own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders and in a single breath.

 

By David WIGLEY

 

Leave a Reply

Top