With over 25 thousand people attending the two-day event – enjoying over 30 plus cultural performances – held over the last weekend, the first-ever New Zealand Sikh Games were a roaring success.

In all, over 125 teams participated in over 14 disciples, with about 20 teams coming from overseas [mainly from Australia]. While the numbers are still being gathered, initial estimates suggest that there were over 125 plus individual participants.

While the event hosted popular sports like Hockey, Cricket and Football, seldom seen sports on New Zealand soil such as Kho Kho, made their appearance at the games too. Incidentally, the Kho Kho trophy was won by the team from Hamilton, Punjabi Knights.

During Saturday’s opening ceremony, in a rousing speech, the Games Golf co-ordinator Kharag Singh, explained the reasons behind calling the games NZ Sikh Games. “It’s unfortunate but our community members still face a lot of racism because people here in New Zealand are not that aware of the Sikh faith. We are often confused with Muslims because of our turbans and beard. That’s why we are calling these games, Sikh Games, so as to raise awareness about Sikhism, and what it stands for.”

Another community leader Prithvi Pal Singh Basha also added, “While Sikhs have lived in New Zealand for more than 100 years, we didn’t had a Gurudwara till about 33 years ago. Now, we have many. Similarly, while it took some time, finally we are having the first-ever New Zealand Sikh Games. And many more will follow, I am sure.”

Local MP from Papakura, National Party’s Judith Collins, and Labour’s Indian-origin MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan, also attended the event, and congratulated the organisers in making it possible.

-TIN Bureau (picture credits: Harry DSLR)

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