As netball continues to grow across New South Wales, so too does the diversity of the communities embracing the game.
For players like Anisha Sivagurunathan, who is of Sri Lankan & Indian heritages and part of Australia’s broader Asian community, netball is more than a sport, it is a pathway, a platform and a powerful connector across cultures.
Anisha’s journey began like many others: through school. Introduced to the sport by her teachers, she quickly fell in love with the energy of the game and the friendships it created.
Through initiatives delivered in partnership with the Australian Asian Netball Association (AANA), more culturally diverse athletes are being introduced to the sport and supported through clear development pathways.
The focus is not to create something separate, but to open doors, connecting Asian Australian communities to grassroots programs, representative opportunities and visible role models who show what’s possible.
For Anisha’s father, Sutha Sivagurunathan, that connection piece is key.
“Once you’re in a team, you’re a netballer,” Sutha said. “But community is often the channel into the sport. If we can engage in different cultural groups and introduce netball in a way that feels accessible, the game takes care of the rest. It builds confident, resilient young people.”
It’s a philosophy reflected in Anisha’s own pathway, where opportunity, representation, and belonging go hand in hand.
From representing Eastwood Ryde Netball Association at a junior level, representative trials followed, and while she didn’t make her first team, the setback became motivation. With renewed focus and determination, she worked on her craft, steadily building her confidence and skillset.
2025 brought about Anisha competing in Metro League, where her Division 3 side claimed a title last season; Anisha’s progression has been shaped by resilience.
Now preparing for her first season of Netball NSW Premier League, Anisha will compete in the 23Us with UTS Randwick Sparks, stepping into one of the state’s most competitive environments.
Visibility matters. When young players see athletes who look like them playing netball in their communities, the sport feels accessible. It feels possible.
Later this month, that visibility will take centre stage when AANA hosts the Hong Kong Under 21 team in Sydney. The match, to be held on 28 February 2026 from 9:30am to 11:30am at Five Dock, will showcase emerging talent while strengthening ties between Australian and Asian netball communities.
AANA is also travelling to Singapore in April this year to play against Netball Singapore in a three match series. It is not about creating something separate from the sport, it is about strengthening netball by widening its reach.
As cultural connections strengthen and new communities’ step onto court, the future of the game in NSW looks broader, more inclusive and more representative than ever.
