India’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Suneet Mehta, has commended the Sangam movement for promoting unity, discipline, and community spirit through sports. During the Sangam Snooker jersey handover ceremony for the Nadi Snooker team, Mehta highlighted the event’s emphasis on values such as youth engagement, athletics, and communal strength, which he identified as fundamental to both the spirit of Fiji and the Sangam community.
Mehta expressed gratitude towards the organizers, sponsors, and volunteers who played a role in making the event successful. He also looked forward to the upcoming Sangam World Cup, which will involve six nations competing in soccer, snooker, and golf. This tournament is particularly noteworthy as it marks Fiji’s first opportunity to host the World Cup since 2014, coinciding with the celebrations leading up to TISI Sangam’s centennial anniversary in April 2026.
In his discussion of snooker, Mehta pointed out its importance in developing essential life skills among youth. He noted that while mainstream sports tend to draw more attention, lesser-known games like snooker contribute significantly to cultivating attributes such as discipline, precision, and focus. He characterized snooker as “a game of the mind as much as of skill,” emphasizing the careful calculations and emotional regulation required for each shot.
Mehta further acknowledged TISI Sangam’s vital contribution to shaping Fiji’s cultural and educational identity, reflecting its long-standing history and efforts to preserve South Indian culture in Fiji since its founding in 1926. To the players of the Nadi Sangam Snooker team, he offered his best wishes in advance of the 2025 Sangam World Cup, reminding them that their new jerseys represent both their commitment and the pride of their community.
The Sangam World Cup stands as a significant milestone—not only as a sporting event but also as a celebration of cultural heritage and community connections among participants. This festival is expected to strengthen relationships within the Pacific community through friendly competition and shared camaraderie. As anticipation builds for the tournament and the cultural exchange it promises to facilitate, there is a hopeful outlook for the future of sports in Fiji, uniting diverse individuals through common passions and mutual respect.