On a serene Sunday morning behind a Sikh temple in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, the Brisbane Bulldogs tug of war team gathers under the guidance of their coach, Graham Egan. The team, a diverse group of enthusiasts, is united by their passion for an ancient sport that demands both physical strength and strategic finesse.
“One of the things I’ve been trying to teach our guys is, don’t go like a bull out of a gate,” Egan advises, emphasizing the importance of a measured approach. “There’s many ingredients, but I think one of the big ones is fitness — if your starting point is fitness, you’ll be OK. The technique’s part of it — it’s the small steps, the breathing, the body height, using your body weight,” he explains.
The Bulldogs have been pulling together for a decade, honing their skills every Sunday morning. “I’d rate us as woeful when we started, which was to be expected, but we’ve gradually got better,” Egan reflects on their progress.
The Ancient Roots of Tug of War
The choice of training venue is no coincidence. Tug of war has deep roots in Asian culture, a fact highlighted by club president Ranjeet Singh. “This is a very ancient game; it goes back thousands of years,” Singh notes. “It’s very famous in India … in different parts of India, they use very different techniques.”
Singh recounts his first experiences with the sport during his school days in India. “In 2016, there was the Australian Sikh Games, here in Brisbane, so that was where I pulled for the first time in Australia,” he says. “When Graham met me after the Sikh Games, he started giving us training here in Taigum.”
Teamwork and Endurance
In tug of war, each team member plays a crucial role, typically pulling around 100 kilograms. “If one person gives up, it’s pretty much the whole team gone, so we all have to stay together and work as a team,” Singh emphasizes. The sport is demanding, requiring not only strength but also endurance and strategy.
“At the Australian Championships you might have something like 20-odd pulls in the day,” Egan explains. “You’ve got to be a bit smart, which gives you the stamina you need and the endurance, and the recovery. You’ve got to be able to not just have a magnificent effort once … you’ve got to keep doing it all day.”
A Push for Olympic Recognition
Tug of war was once a staple of the modern Olympic Games, featured from 1900 until 1920. Now, more than a century later, enthusiasts like Singh hope for its return, especially with the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane in 2032.
“It’s a community sort of game,” Singh asserts. “It requires a lot of strategy, and hard work, and stamina, which any other sport requires.”
Looking Ahead
The Brisbane Bulldogs continue to train with dedication, embodying the spirit of teamwork and tradition. As they pull together each Sunday, they not only keep the ancient sport alive but also foster a sense of community and shared purpose. Their journey reflects a broader movement to revive tug of war on the global stage, aiming for a return to Olympic glory.
