Players from a 1947 King's Birthday Hockey Tournament match between Auckland and Wellington at Hutt Park in the capital. Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Indian Sports Association
For six decades, a community hockey tournament has been fostering strong connections among Kiwi-Indians.
The King's Birthday Hockey Tournament, formerly known as the Queen's Birthday Hockey Tournament, is one of the country's oldest hockey competitions. Since 1965, passionate hockey enthusiasts from the Indian community have been competing for the prestigious Dhyan Chand Trophy.
In this year's tournament, the Pukekohe men's team emerged victorious, claiming the championship trophy in the highly competitive A-grade competition. Meanwhile, Central Districts showcased its skill and determination, triumphing over Wellington to secure the men's B-grade title.
Completing the list of winners, the women's championship trophy was secured by the impressive North Harbour Indian Sports Club.
The tournament's roots can be traced back to 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne.
The inaugural Coronation Tournament, which took place at Maidstone Park in the capital, involved teams from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. This historic event served as the precursor to the current King's Birthday Tournament.
"It all started when our forefathers came over and settled in these small areas and obviously our chosen sport was hockey," Suresh Wallabh says.
Wallabh is a former player for the Pukekohe Indian Sports Club and is now president of the New Zealand Indian Sports Association that organises the tournament.
The association has eight affiliated clubs from different regions of the country.
The Wellington and Auckland clubs were founded in 1935. Anyone with an Indian heritage can play for a regional club.
"We are now 61 years old, and I've been president for about 10 years," Wallabh says. "I originally started as a player in Pukekohe."
Chan Dullabh. Photo: Supplied / Chan Dullabh
Key milestone
The tournament's primary objective was to create a social gathering for the community, allowing members to meet and spend time together.
"It was primarily a social event, a chance to get together with family and friends," Wallabh says.
The King's Birthday Tournament has given rise to a new hockey competition known as the New Zealand Heritage Hockey Tournament.
In collaboration with colleagues of New Zealand Māori and Pasifika descent, Wallabh and his team organise an Easter tournament annually.
Recognising the competition as a significant milestone for both the sport and his association, Wallabh believes the event shines a spotlight on New Zealand's rich cultural diversity. Moreover, it offers young athletes more opportunities to pursue hockey, contributing to its growth and representation in the country.
Hitesh Dahya has been participating in the tournament for more than 20 years.
"It's probably my 21st year," Dahya says. "This tournament obviously gives me an opportunity to represent my regional territory. I take a lot of pride in it."
Dahya, a striker, led his team to victory, securing the Dhyan Chand Trophy in 2023.
He believes that events such as the King's Birthday Tournament are vital for the community, allowing individuals to showcase their heritage and providing unparalleled opportunities to bond with friends and family.
"These sort of tournaments gives me the ability to represent my heritage," Dahya says. "Every year pretty much you have the ability to play with your friends and your family. It's just something that you can't get anywhere else really."
Hitesh Dahya controls the ball during a match. Photo: Supplied / Hitesh Dahya
Future challenges
Chan Dullabh is an executive member and former president of the North Harbour Indian Sports club, the newest club in the tournament.
"I was there at its conception," he recalls.
The club came into existence when a group of families in Auckland's North Shore came together for a picnic and a friendly hockey match.
Dullabh draws parallels to the sports clubs formed in the 1930s, saying "That's how the sports clubs of yesteryear were created."
Dullabh believes that sports events such as the King's Birthday Tournament played a significant role in uniting the community in the past.
"It was a big thing back then because they only had each other," he says.
Having been a player for the Waikato Indian Sports Club, Dullabh has witnessed the tournament's impact firsthand.
However, the tournament faces certain challenges as it looks to the future.
Suresh Wallabh. Photo: Supplied / Suresh Wallabh
"Over the years, I think there haven't been enough players in certain areas to form teams," Suresh Wallabh says.
The disinterest among the younger generation in playing hockey and their preference for alternative recreational activities pose additional hurdles.
Chan Dullabh echoes these concerns, emphasising the importance of parental involvement and cultural awareness to steer the youth away from other distractions.
"Youngsters have found other recreational activities to move them away from sports," Dullabh says. "We're talking about, you know, maybe another sport or video games, but it's something that's totally out of our control what they do. So, it's our hope that parents get involved and try to steer them, and make them aware of their culture."