The recently concluded 2023 Kabaddi World Cup, hosted at the newly constructed New Zealand Sikh Stadium behind Takanini Gurdwara Sahib in Auckland, marked a historic moment for kabaddi enthusiasts. Over two days, from November 25 to 26 the event drew a massive turnout of more than 25,000 attendees.
The competition brought together some of the finest players from New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Canada, India, and Pakistan, representing the sport’s first global competition hostedby New Zealand in nine years, following the last event in 2014. In the final, Australia emerged victorious against the United States, while New Zealand faced defeat in the semi-final against the United States. The Best Stoppers award was rightfully claimed by Pindu Seechewal and Amrit Aulakh, and the Best Raider title went to Jashan Alamghir.
Dilraj Kaur, President of the New Zealand Sikh Sports Complex (NZSSC) and part of the organising committee, expressed, “The response to the event was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees expressing their admiration for the competition and the vibrantcultural exchange it fostered. The Kabaddi World Cup is a melting pot of cultures, fostering understanding and unity among attendees from various countries. Due to this enthusiastic response, we plan to make the Kabaddi World Cup an annual event, further solidifying its significance.”
The NZSSC is the sports wing of Supreme Sikh Society of NZ, and the youth team looks after the affairs of the sports complex. All youth are NZ born and heavily involved in all sports events.
Nearly 105 overseas players took part in the Kabaddi World Cup that spanned two days. Mahindra Motors, Fundagroup Insurance Broker, Nauhria Precast and other Indian businesses were the main sponsors for the event.
The primary inspiration behind this grand event was the inauguration of the Sikh Stadium, a project that took two years to complete. Dilraj highlighted, “The stadium, boasting of a seating capacity of 2,500, stands as a symbol of dedication to promoting sports and togetherness within the community.
Establishing the Sikh Stadium is expected to elevate the competition’s stature in the years to come. This is the first stadium dedicated to kabaddi built outside India, and its opening is an important symbol of our commitment to cultural diversity and inclusiveness.”
The event garnered significant attention, with notable figures such as Melissa Lee, Rima Nakhle, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, Greg Fleming, and Australian ambassador to New Zealand, Harinder Sidhu, recognising its significance.
The event was proudly supported by Auckland Council.
Brent Catchpole, Chairperson, Papakura Local Board called the event fun and exciting. He said, “It was an amazing experience to witness some great players fighting it out. The crowds were great. It was an exciting occasion that I would not have missed.”
Auckland Council’s Manurewa- Papakura Ward councillor Daniel Newman expressed his delight: “The Kabaddi World Cup was an absolutely stunning success and one of the best experiences of my life. Having an international standard sporting event right in the heart of Takanini is amazing.
"My heartfelt congratulations to Daljit Singh and the Supreme Sikh Society, who did a superb job to help the youth to organise this year’s tournament.
"I am honoured that the Wiri Licensing Trust, of which I am a Deputy Chair, could take action to fund the construction of the kabaddi stadium.”
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