SPORT

by John McDonald

Travel around parts of Blacktown municipality on winter weekends , pass sports fields , and the Indian love of cricket hits you for six . There are organised official seven-a-side competitions on Saturdays , and full pick-up games on Sundays .

Seven days a week cricket nets are being used ; players practise , and parents and coaches teach children , boys and girls in full gear .

Indians … they love it . Well , not all of them .

“ I hate it ”, said Gulsher Singh , a Punjabi man . Gulsher said he hates it because in India cricket has consumed resources from other sports , which have been neglected . He has been , and is , a track and field athlete , a champion one , but more of that later .

His main claim is the well-deserved local recognition as a mentor . He was chosen as Coach of the Year at Blacktown Council ’ s recent sports awards . Where did it start ? “ My wife , Harseen , and one of my friends , Harkirat Singh , were training and a 13-year-old boy came over and asked if he could join in ,” Gulsher said . That was in 2020 and soon other children were on to it .

“ We now have about 65-70 kids in Glenwood Little Athletics and other

Always on the run ! Husband and wife , Gulsher and Harseen Singh ’ s sporting prowess is promoting athletics track and field in the Blacktown area . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .

Gulsher and Harseen with fellow members of Glenwood Athletics Club . By the mile-wide smiles , everyone enjoys participating in athletics . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .

centres from U5 to U17 . We train Tuesday , Thursday , Saturday , and Sunday afternoons . We have Hindu , Sikh and Aussie kids and the aim is assimilation and integration and we cover track and field .”

Gulsher is an achiever , which is how he found his way to Blacktown from a Punjab state 10 years ago to come Down Under and settle in Marayong where he lives with his wife . He was a sprinter and 400m runner in India , with a best time of 48.08 sec for the longer distance .

“ I participated in 10 national - level championships and was offered a job in the Indian army under the sports quota ,” Gulsher told me .

“ After a few years of service , I migrated to Australia after receiving a sports scholarship .”

Olympic gold-medal javelin winner in 2020 , Neeraj Chopra , was to later receive an army commission because of his prowess . Gulsher said Chopra ’ s Tokyo Olympics success had led to greater athlete participation and resources for athletics in India .

After migrating to Australia , Gulsher studied and commuted to Canberra and university weekly .

He got slower and slower on the athletics track with studying taking precedence over the starting blocks . On a trip back to India he met his future wife , Harseen , and they returned to Blacktown and married in the Blacktown Sikh temple .

Harseen has a Bachelor of Science degree , a nursing diploma , is a javelin thrower , and in a figurative change of events , works in financial management . He works from home , creating education programs .

He has level one , two , and three and is studying for level four coaching certificate with Athletics NSW and Athletics Australia .

“ I visit schools throughout our district and talk about the benefits of an athletics program . This is under sporting school ’ s programs initiated by Athletics Australia .”

He ’ s also resumed running in earnest , winning the 30-34 years 400m in 54 sec at the NSW Masters Games last year .

“ Glenwood had 11 participants , nine of whom were amateurs , among the more than 500 from 75 clubs who competed in over 44 events . Several others from Glenwood also brought home medals !” Gulsher is on a run , as it were ! He joined the SES as a volunteer in the wake of the most recent Hawkesbury floods , and that has led to eligibility for police games . He represented NSW Health , and competed at the last World Police Games . He won the 400m at the Australian-New Zealand version as a warm-up and finished sixth in 52 seconds at the World Games held in Winnipeg , Canada last year .

He aims to be down to 50 seconds at next year ’ s games in Birmingham , Alabama . The 37 th Australian Sikh Games is planned for Bass Hill Sports Complex next year on the Easter weekend .

“ There ’ ll be 90 teams and competitors in sports such as athletics , soccer , netball and tennis ,” he said .

“ The first multicultural sports meeting will be held at Blacktown International Sports Park in September . There ’ s a gap there and we plan to fill it . Meanwhile , at home , my wife lets me say that I ’ m the boss but we both know better - after all , she ’ s the one with who throws the javelin …”

If things get a bit heated , Gulsher is fit enough to do a runner to Cornucopia Reserve !

BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 41 // AUGUST 2024 21