MELBOURNE, 6 August, 2025: It’s time to encourage Indian subcontinent or South Asians in Victoria to join the Cricket/Sports bandwagon. There are encouraging signs and it needs a boost, was the sumup of the Australia India Business Council organised panel discussion – It’s not just Cricket: Sport, social cohesion, belonging.
The panelists Giles Gunesekera, CEO Global Impact Initiative, Hasrat Gill, Cricketer, Molina Asthana, AIBC Sports, and moderated by Vinessa Murray. The issues discussed veered around how Indian, for example, Diaspora youngsters need to be encouraged to be in sports.
Much more needs to be done to make this a reality, was the feeling. The sporting environment is inclusive and that needs to be tapped, was one of the opinion.
The event was opened by Radhika Kanhai, President AIBC, Victoria, a video message of Leader of Opposition Brad Battin was played and Indian Consul General, Dr. Sushil Kumar, commended the organisers for the purposeful and informative program.
Large number of business people of Indian origin were present and the networking opportunity was utilised. The event at Olympian Room, State Netball & Hockey Centre, with hockey matches on on blue-lighted pitches on different sides gave a sporting ambience to the program.
The Australia India Business Council and the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute hosted the event, and was sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank and nib.
