Indian Sports Club scores a hockey ball grant

Members of the Auckland Indian Sports Club are thrilled to have received a grant from NZCT of $5,000 towards covering the cost of hockey balls and face masks.

Club Secretary Vinod Patel says, “The NZCT grants have made a huge difference to us not only in respect of providing us with much-needed equipment and access to training facilities to improve not only our hockey skills but also our general fitness and positivity through sport.”

“Our members have created and nurtured fantastic groups of friends and these began from members who were five years old, twenty years ago, and continue now. NZCT has allowed us to keep our registration fees to a minimum, which has not only enabled us to participate in various sports, but also to connect with our local community members and encouraged them to join.”

“Our members often socialise outside of sport, but these bonds were born from the sports teams that got us together in the first place. NZCT’s funding has allowed us to form and maintain the teams and enjoy the benefit of physical well-being through fitness/training. There is also the invaluable positive effect on mental well-being through friendships and bonds that last a lifetime.”

“The importance of teamwork from a young age and confidence/courage gained from sports cannot be overestimated and we owe a huge debt to NZCT for their significant role in enhancing this. Sports at the youth level encourages good health through physical fitness and focuses their minds, rather than wasting time on other, often illegal pursuits that could negatively impact on the community/society as a whole.”

The Auckland Indian Sports Club was founded in 1936 as a community club from immigrant Indians who congregated together in weekends and participated in sport as an outlet from the grind of daily life. They have formed deep family bonds, friendships, and social ties spanning over eighty years.

Senior members of the Club, some of whom go back fifty years) are often seen on the side-lines, cheering on our younger members. They were once juniors themselves and so the cycle is continually in motion for these young adults to carry on the tradition.

We now have about 120 players, many participating in the AHA Junior Festival of Hockey. Our vision is to promote, develop, and enable all ages and abilities to play both social and competitive sport.