Sport for all
This summer Nottingham played host to the first Sikh Games in the UK, a celebration of sport, culture and representation featuring everything from football, cricket, hockey and kabbadi competitions to music and martial arts. Mandeep Kaur Moore, the president and founder of the event, speaks to journalist Minreet Kaur about the inspiration behind the games, her personal highlights and what she has planned for the future.
What are the origins of the Sikh Games?
The Sikh Games have deep roots in Australia, where they first began in 1987 as a way to bring together the Sikh community through a love of sport and a shared cultural heritage. Over the decades, the games have grown into one of the largest gatherings of the Sikh diaspora. It’s not just an athletic competition; it’s an event that reinforces identity, builds community and offers a platform for people of all ages and abilities to showcase their talents.
The games in Australia, which attract thousands of participants and spectators annually, have always stood as a beacon of representation for Sikhs in sports. While there are still challenges regarding underrepresentation in broader sporting circles, events like the Sikh Games serve as a reminder that sport can be a powerful force for community, inclusion, and empowerment.
What inspired you to set up the Sikh Games in the UK?
For too long, the Sikh and broader South Asian communities in the UK have been underrepresented in sports, whether as athletes, coaches or officials. The Sikh Games are not just about sporting excellence; they are about creating pathways for the next generation, where young people see representation and feel encouraged to get involved.
This [event] is a labour of love – a voluntary endeavour driven by my lifelong passion for sports and community engagement. My family in Australia was always involved in the Sikh Games there, which have a rich history spanning 36 years. Each year, up to 200,000 people gather to celebrate not only sports but also Sikh culture. I would listen to my relatives speak about the joy, camaraderie, and competitive spirit they experienced, and I knew that one day, we had to bring that to the UK.
Growing up, I had always been passionate about sports. I was one of those people who couldn’t wait for someone to organise the first Sikh Games in the UK, where I could not only compete but witness a community coming together to celebrate our shared love of physical competition and culture.
But for years the event I had long dreamed of never materialised. I spent a year trying to encourage others to take on the role of setting up this project, however that just didn’t happen. Then, one day, I decided that if no one else was going to do it, maybe I should take on the challenge myself. And with the support of an incredible team, I had the privilege of founding the very first UK Sikh Games.
'Each sport brought its own community and energy, with athletes ranging from professionals to amateurs'
How did the event go?
Our first-ever Sikh Games in the UK, held in Nottingham [in August], were a resounding success. We kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the National Ice Centre, where a range of spectacular performances set the tone for what was to come. From Punjabi music legends like Satinder Sartaaj, Jazzy B and Jaz Dhami to dazzling displays of Sikh martial arts, fireworks and an immersion into Sikh culture and heritage – it was an unforgettable launch.
The games themselves spanned three days, transforming Nottingham into a multi-venue sporting hub, akin to the Olympics. The University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, GAD Gym, Broomley’s Cricket Club and Carillon Sports Club played host to a variety of sports competitions, including cricket, football, hockey, kabaddi, and powerlifting. Each sport brought its own community and energy, with athletes ranging from professionals to amateurs who had long yearned for such an opportunity.
What were the highlights?
One of my personal highlights was the women’s over-60s hockey tournament. It was truly inspiring to watch women who had not played sport in over 50 years find the confidence to return to the pitch. For many, this was their first time competing since their youth, and the Sikh Games offered them a safe and encouraging environment to reengage with sport. It’s stories like these that underscore the transformative power of the games, not just as a competitive event but as a place where people reconnect with their passions.
The competitions themselves were thrilling too. The kabaddi matches were particularly intense, showcasing the strength, strategy and determination of the athletes. The powerlifting competition also stood out, with lifters showing immense dedication to their craft. Each event contributed to the overarching goal of the games: to celebrate athleticism, culture and community.
What’s the vision for the future of the Sikh Games?
While this year’s Sikh Games were an incredible achievement, they are only the beginning. We have big plans to grow the games in the coming years, starting with smaller regional events to maintain the momentum and keep our community engaged. In two years’ time, we’ll host the next full edition of the UK Sikh Games, but we also have our sights set on an even grander goal: the establishment of the Global Sikh Games by 2030.
But our ambitions don’t stop there. In addition to growing the games themselves, we are focused on addressing the wider issue of underrepresentation of Sikhs and other South Asians in sports. Too often, people from our community’s face barriers – whether cultural, financial, or institutional – that prevent them from fully participating in sports. We want to break down those barriers.
To achieve this, we are working closely with national sports governing bodies to create more opportunities for Sikhs to not only participate in sports but also to take on leadership roles, whether as coaches, officials, or administrators. Our aim is to foster an environment where Sikhs and other South Asians feel empowered to engage with sports at all levels. Sport is not just about being on the field; it’s about the ecosystem of opportunities that surround it.
We are also committed to investing in sports education, particularly for young athletes. Through workshops, seminars, sports excellence camps and talks, we plan to inspire the next generation to get involved, not just as players but as leaders. We’ll be holding a series of fundraising events to support this cause, with the goal of creating a sustainable platform for ongoing Sikh involvement in the sporting world.
How can people get involved?
The Sikh Games are more than just a sporting event; they are a movement. A movement that aims to inspire, uplift, and engage the Sikh and South Asian communities in the UK and beyond. By providing a space where athletes of all ages and abilities can compete, and by working to create more opportunities in sports, we are building a legacy that will endure for generations.
As we look to the future, I encourage everyone – whether Sikh or not – to get involved. Whether you’re an athlete, a volunteer, a coach, or simply a supporter, there’s a place for you in this movement of creating playing fields reflective of the multicultural society we live in. Together, we can ensure that the Sikh Games continue to grow, and that the underrepresentation of our community in sports becomes a thing of the past.
The future is bright, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.
Minreet Kaur is an award-winning journalist who focuses on South Asian and diverse communities, religion, travel and health. Twitter: @minkaur5 and Instagram: @minreet_kaur
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Runnymede Trust.
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Photo © Ram Singh Photographers
