Local Hockey clubs are sprouting in major cities in Australia, making concerted efforts to forge new passions and revive the dormant ones among Punjabi migrants towards India’s national sport that the country was once the undisputed champion of.
One such local club is ‘Craigiebrun Falcons’ founded in 2017 by a group of Indian-origin hockey enthusiasts living in Melbourne's northern suburb, with the motive of encouraging Punjabis to pick up the sticks.
“The main aim behind forming this club was to spread a culture of sports in local Punjabi families and to provide a platform for young children to start participating in our much-loved sport of Hockey,” said Sikander Sharma, one of the founding members of the club.
In a short span of time, the club has flourished both in terms of popularity and prestige.
Craigieburn Falcons will play against Victoria Police on November 18th. Source: Supplied
The club boasts of 150 members between the ages of 5 to 50, many of whom have already showcased their talent in various tournaments, coached entirely by hockey enthusiasts from within the community.
But their biggest achievement so far has been the formation of a women's hockey team comprising players from all age groups of the community.
Craigieburn Falcons' women's team in action Source: Supplied
“As a Club, we were very delighted to enter a women team in our very first year. The team was formed by mothers who had never played any competitive sport in their whole life. They entered the field, played and conquered,” Mr Sharma told SBS Punjabi.
Earlier in 2017, the club drafted its flagship Diwali Cup in collaboration with Victoria Police Hockey Club to promote dialogue between the community members and officers fueled by the common love for the sport.
“It is a community event where Police and community play a match and socialise. It gives an opportunity to Police to know our culture and build relationships,” added Mr Sharma.
“It also gives an opportunity to the members of our community to know their Police and ask any questions which they would hesitate to ask when these Police members are in Uniform.”
The Craigieburn Falcons is slated to host its second Diwali Cup on November 18th, later this year.
