– popularising India’s national game in the Kiwi-Indian community

Aminder Gill is a man on a mission. Having played hockey all his life, firstly in his school and college in Punjab, and since 2008 in New Zealand, he now wants to pass on his wealth of knowledge to the younger generation.

But let’s look at his impeccable credentials first. Back home, he captained Punjab University when it competed in the nationals. And here, he has represented New Zealand in the 2017 Trans Tasman Challenge Mens 35+ in 2017, and is a regular feature now in Auckland’s Mens 40+ competing in nationals. All the more, he is in the running to a part of New Zealand’s Mens 40+ team that will compete in the Hockey World Cup scheduled in Nottingham in the UK in August 2020.

“The team will be decided based on performances in the nationals to be held in February next year. If I get selected, I will be looking for some sponsorship to be able to represent my country, as the masters world cups are entirely self-funded,” Gill informed.

Coming back to his goal of popularising India’s national game in the Kiwi-Indian community, Gill, with some of his friends who have also played hockey at a competitive level, established the South Auckland-based New Zealand Punjabi Hockey Club in 2017.

Notably, the club was the runner-up in the just concluded first-ever New Zealand Sikh Games, where they lost narrowly to Melbourne Sikh United which was led by a former Pakistan internal Muddasir Abbas. “While the club was formed officially two-years-back, our core team of players have played together for over a decade now, participating in tournaments across the Tasman as well. We have been runner-ups in four editions of the Australian Sikh Games, and have also lifted the trophy once in 2014,” he added.

These days, Gill, can be seen at the Southern Districts Hockey Club’s turf in Papatoetoe, South Auckland, every Sunday, where scores of young Kiwi-Indians train under his watchful eyes. “Our goal is pass on the typical sub-continental hockey skills-sets to these players, who then go on to represent various clubs in age-group hockey. And many have in recent years, which is heartening, with many representing Auckland as well,” he concluded.

-Gaurav Sharma