On March 7, as International Women’s Day is marked around the world, IndianCare will bring women to the centre of the court with the Desi Women Sports Fest, a first-of-its-kind sporting festival focused on adult women of Indian origin in Victoria.
The festival will be held at the Victoria University Community Sports Stadium and is open to women aged 18 and above. For IndianCare, an ethno-specific community development and welfare organisation that works closely with Indian-origin communities across Victoria, the event is about much more than competition.
“It is very hard to engage women,” says Vasundhara Kandpal, Manager of Operations at IndianCare. “Most women are working, managing homes, and looking after children and elders. They are doing the heavy lifting, and there is very little time left for themselves.”
IndianCare’s work spans family violence support, mental health services, helplines and community programs. Through this work, the organisation noticed a clear gap: while women needed support, they were often unable to step into spaces where help or connection was offered.
“We have so much support to offer,” Kandpal says. “But many women are not even in the headspace to recognise they need help, or that help exists. We realised we needed a different way to engage with them.”
That “different way” turned out to be sport.
This new approach began with a federal government grant received in 2024, aimed at promoting physical activity. IndianCare used the funding to establish local sports groups across Melbourne’s Indian-dominant councils, which have since grown to include approximately 15 weekly badminton groups, 15 swimming groups, and online yoga classes, engaging nearly 579 women. The Desi Women Sports Fest is the first major gathering for these groups.
Jaya Manchikanti, President of IndianCare, highlights the broader vision. “Desi women need to see themselves represented in sports and games so that they too can enjoy the benefits of being active in a sport-loving country like Australia.”
The festival will transform the Community Sports Stadium into a vibrant arena. While badminton will be the main competitive sport, with age categories of 18–30, 31–55, and 55-plus, the day will also feature fun games such as tug-of-war, lemon-and-spoon races and Kho-Kho. Three courts will host women’s events, with a fourth dedicated as a family zone for supporters. With nearly $6,000 in prizes and registrations filling quickly, the emphasis is firmly on participation rather than competition.
The core goal is a shift in mindset. “There is still this expectation that women must always be in the caregiving role,” Kandpal notes. “We want to challenge that. It is okay to step away. Looking after yourself does not make you a selfish wife or mother.”
This message is particularly important, as Kandpal recalls some mothers asking, “What’s there for my children?” when invited to the event. “This is about women,” she stresses. “For one day, we want your family to cheer for you.”
The Desi Women’s Sports Fest is both a celebration and an invitation—an invitation for women to step onto the court, and for their community to cheer from the sidelines.
To register for Desi Women Sports Fest 2026, click here.
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