Thousands of people from across the country and overseas are expected to visit Tauranga for the local Punjabi community’s annual sports tournament.

The event returns on November 1-2 for its 25th year and will be hosted at Aquinas College.

Players are travelling from Australia, Canada, India and Pakistan to compete in a range of sports.

From soccer and badminton to hockey and volleyball, “there’s something for everyone”, said Ranjit Singh, president of the Bay of Plenty Sports and Cultural Club. The tournament will include the popular Indian sport kabaddi.

For those unfamiliar with India’s traditional sport, Singh described kabaddi as “quite rough and tough”. It’s a contact game – a mixture of wrestling and touch rugby, he said.

The tournament “means a lot” to Tauranga’s Punjabi community, Singh said.

“The club has been running for so long. We have hundreds of volunteers and members. Our local community really look forward to this event because it’s once a year.”

Kabaddi being played at 2024's annual sports tournament hosted by the Bay of Plenty Sports and Cultural Cub. Photo / Bay of Plenty Sports and Cultural Club

Singh encouraged people to make the most of free entry and come along to the annual sports tournament.

Food will be provided for attendees, cooked by community members the night before. There will also be a bouncy castle to keep the kids entertained.

Saturday will be dedicated to family fun and on Sunday the real games begin.

Singh said 5000 people – 500 of whom are players – are expected to attend the two-day event.

The number of attendees increases every year, Singh said.

International players will stay in New Zealand for six to eight weeks, sticking around for the Sikh Games in Auckland – the largest Punjabi event nationwide, taking place on November 29 to 30 at Bruce Pulman Park.

Tauranga’s Diwali Festival preceded the annual sports tournament, held at Historic Village on October 18. The festivities will continue on November 17 with cultural activities, dance performances and awards to the community, Singh said.

The Bay of Plenty Sports and Cultural Club worked with Tauranga City Council and Tauranga’s Multicultural Society to put the event together.

The details

- What: Bay of Plenty Sports and Cultural Club’s Annual Sports Tournament

- When: November 1-2, from midday to evening

- Where: Aquinas College