Faculty of ArtOn October 29th, 2025, ACAM320J hosted Dr. May Farrales and Dr. Sharnjit Kaur Sandhra for an open lecture sharing their work on the role of basketball in Asian Canadian placemaking, identity shaping, and community engagement.
“The Body at Play” was an opportunity for guests to engage with the different histories and experiences of basketball in Punjabi and Filipinix communities. With this as a starting point, both Dr. Sandhra and Dr. Farrales elaborated on the dynamics of the sport that happen beyond the boundaries of the court.
Dr. Sandhra’s “We Are Basketball” exhibition was on display and accessible for attendees to view and interact with by creating their own basketball player card. The objective is for those experiencing the exhibit to make their own contribution, highlighting someone in their own life or someone others may not know, and to include them in the canon of iconic players.
I grew up playing sports myself and was surrounded by other Punjabi kids and those from the larger Asian-Canadian diaspora who enjoyed basketball. As a child, I always found it curious that we weren’t as represented in professional leagues.
Dr. Sandhra illuminated some of the barriers faced by those in post-secondary basketball: racism and discrepancies in treatment between South Asian players and white players. She emphasized the importance of spaces that are inviting for specifically South Asian players, such as the annual Indo-Hoops tournament.
The significance of basketball shows up in more casual ways as well. Dr. May Farrales spoke on their research about the ways masculinity for the Filipinix community is negotiated in those spaces. I really enjoyed hearing the firsthand interview quotes Dr. Farrales shared from fathers who use basketball to bond with their sons, to men who use it as an outlet between workdays. Each one offered a unique relationship to the sport.
The most impactful aspect of this event was to see the power of solidarity between communities. The last portion of the lecture was dedicated to audience questions, opening the floor to Dr. Sandhra and Dr. Farrales to expand on the concepts that resonated and inspired further discussion. Guests inquired about the place for women within the politics of basketball tournaments, the gender binary of sports teams, and how we can do better as a community to support local sports.
Opportunities to engage in conversation about the power of sport are rare. Even rarer still is the opportunity to enter a space that emphasizes hearing one another.
Reflection by Rhea Mann
Photos by Devon Meadows
